Though still a hot week despite temperatures being under triple digits, the climate didn’t stop hundreds from participating in the many activities planned for Sportsman’s Holiday.
Through a week of activities organized by the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce celebrating the event’s “Diamonds & Decades” theme, people laughed during the Chips ‘n’ Splinters show, Peyton Markell was named 2024 Sportsman’s Holiday Queen, car enthusiasts cruised up and down the city (or watched from the sidelines), A&W revealed its addition of vintage statues in the parade, and the area’s toughest loggers competed for bragging rights in the Logger’s Olympics.
The annual festivities this year kicked off on Wednesday, July 10, with the Chips ‘n’ Splinters Show, named more specifically this year after the emcees as the Ward-N-Dave Show. Ward Christman and David Dominy delivered a comedic and musical performance throughout the evening.
Starting off the night, Dominy tasered Christman (just pretend tasering), to which Christman had to tell Dominy it was not the “Warden Dave” Show. That was the first of many jests presented by the pair, followed by some truly terrible “dad jokes,” but, like, the type of dad jokes that even dads wouldn’t use because they were so bad.
The pair proceeded to do a sing-off, taking turns singing Elvis tunes. Dominy sang songs such as “Love Me Tender” and “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear,” while Christman competed against him with “All Shook Up” and “One Night With You.”
While both singers engaged the microphone stand in a sort of embrace, Christman added a little bit of hip swinging to his performances. Throughout the rest of the evening, the pair took turns singing songs by various artists from throughout the decades. Kids danced, the audience chimed in during Christman’s rendition of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” and Dominy nodded to his faith with MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine.”
Susan Coleman, Wendi Melcher, Milt Moran and Alex Paul intermittently contributed dad jokes that elicited some chuckles from the audience (Where do you take someone who’s been in a peek-a-boo accident? ICU), and the junior and senior courts were presented.
The Queen’s Coronation took place the following evening. Set under the shade of the outdoor amphitheater at Community Chapel, princesses Emmaline Durrett, Zoë Garrett, Peyton Lindsey, Peyton Markell and Amelia Sullens each presented a speech covering key events in a particular decade.
Sullens highlighted important milestones in the 1950s, including the rapid expansion of the logging industry, the start of the school’s wrestling team and its first title win, and the rallying together of the community to raise funds to build a pool. She learned that back in the 1950s, the residents of Sweet Home worked together to help people in need, a tradition that continues today.
If she could travel back in time, Sullens said she’d like to visit the 1990s, one reason being so that she could see Coach Steve Thorpe with hair. Emcee Don Knight informed her that Thorpe didn’t have hair back then, either.
Markell reviewed key moments in history from the 1960s, which included the space race and moon landing, the rise of iconic bands, the civil rights movement, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the Vietnam War and Cuban Missile Crisis.
Locally, Markell learned both dams in Sweet Home were built during this decade. If she could time travel, she said she’d like to go back to the 1950s with her dad so together they could have a “Back to the Future” movie-like experience.
Lindsey covered the 1970s, highlighting the opening of The Point restaurant and Sunnyside Park, and the boat races which for a brief period of time took place on the city’s new lakes. One thing she noticed during this decade was the community’s pride in supporting youth and its commitment to local traditions, such as Sportsman’s Holiday. If she could travel in time, Lindsey said she’d go to the 1920s because she likes feathers, flappers and fun.
Garrett reviewed the history of Sweet Home during the 1980s, noting the toll that the Endangered Species Act took on the area’s logging industry. Garrett wanted to dip her toes briefly into the 1990s to highlight the benefit the Oregon Jamboree infused back into the city during those hard times.
“Sweet Home will face other challenges,” she said. “The decline of the 1980s wasn’t our first and it won’t be our last. We have a strong community that can overcome anything.”
If she could time travel, Garrett thought it would be fun to see Europe in the late 1800s, so long as she didn’t have to live there during that time.
Finally, Durrett presented a snapshot of the 1990s in Sweet Home, a decade that reflected a community trying to pull itself out from under the collapse of the logging industry and push forward into a better future. It was a time when Weddle Bridge was rebuilt over Ames Creek and the Oregon Jamboree held its inaugural festival on that very bridge, giving hope and joy to the community.
“Sweet Home is still filled with people certain of a bright future and the determination to make it happen,” she said.
If she could travel in time, Durrett would visit the 1920s because it was “bougie.”
Together, the Sportsman’s Holiday Court raised $7,902 from raffle ticket sales to be distributed to each princess’ chosen nonprofit. Markell sold the most tickets, raising $3,368 for Rotary Club’s scholarship and Dolly Parton Imagination Library programs.
Markell was selected as this year’s Sportsman’s Holiday Queen, while Durrett was named Miss Congeniality.
Friday night was reserved for the Icebox Cut the Gut car cruise, featuring 21 checkpoints on a 14-mile loop. As many as 249 drivers registered for the excursion and ultimately voted O&M Point S as the best checkpoint of the year.
“The checkpoints always go above and beyond,” organizer Karla Hogan said. “It was perfect weather, gorgeous evening. It was amazing.”
Chamber Director Lagea Mull said someone from Albany brought their family from Denmark to the car cruise.
“That’s a fun thing that you have people coming from Denmark to see this fun, classic event of a car cruise,” she said.
The goal of the chamber and the Sportsman’s Holiday is to bring business to Sweet Home, Mull said, adding that she was pleased to hear A&W’s sales were higher this year during the annual cruise.
Collectible Cut the Gut apparel can still be purchased from the chamber.
Saturday morning ushered in a breakfast invitation at the Elks Lodge, and shoppers visited yard sales and The Singing Christmas Tree Craft & Vendor Fair. More than 70 businesses, organizations and families cruised the trek, parading up Main Street and down Long Street. Most spectators found a shady sidewalk to perch themselves upon and children were at the ready to collect candy tossed from the floats.
Floats included trucks hauling children dressed in neon 1980s apparel for the “decades” theme; three car clubs showing off their best vehicles; horses, big rigs and fire crews; local and area princess courts; and nonprofits, clubs and businesses.
A highlight among the many floats was A&W’s display as they revealed to the city one of their biggest secrets: recently-acquired vintage statues of the chain’s “Burger Family” icons, including Mama, Papa and Teen Burger.
Mull noted this year’s parade lasted about an hour, the longest duration since her time at the chamber.
“I felt like it was a good turn out,” she said. “People love to come out and support the parade, and then they were able to go over to the arts and crafts fair.”
And despite the summer heat, an estimated 30-plus loggers participated in the Logger’s Olympics, which celebrates the city’s heritage. Organizer and CTC President Milt Moran said the event was very competitive this year, but everyone had a really good time.
“It’s an opportunity to have some fun and to make some quick cash for them,” Moran said.
He reflected on the importance of loggers to the area, noting their expertise in taking care of trees, land and streams to ensure there is a healthy supply of timber for future generations.
“They’re the first environmentalists, really,” he said. “They’re the experts in the field.”
Most notably missing from this year’s Sportsman’s Holiday, however, was a fireworks finale.
Chief Nick Tyler from Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District informed the community via social media the Sweet Home Volunteer Firefighters Association would no longer host the fireworks show due to an increased call volume on the district and a decrease in available volunteer firefighters.
“I did notify all the partners and the community that last year would be the Volunteer Firefighters Association’s last year in the management of the fireworks show,” Tyler posted. “There were simply not enough volunteers to continue to fundraise and organize the show. Ultimately, we were unable to find an organization that had the capacity and/or desire to take this project on.”
Adam Leisinger, who said he was among the pyrotechnic crew for several years, said no one has yet stepped up to take over the show.
He noted that not only does a show “easily” cost at least $20,000, but many residents were disgruntled last year for having to pay a $10 parking fee at Quarry Park. It was a reaction that, according to Leisinger, disheartened some of the pyrotechnic crew who spent 15 hours from setup to tear down in 90-degree heat.
“After sweating your butt off all day and night in fire gear, it is very unmotivating to want to do it again,” he shared about the complaints on social media.
For a number of years the fireworks had been shot off over Foster Lake by the Firefighters Association, and from 2021 to 2023 they presented the show from Quarry Park.
To return to a lake show, Leisinger pointed out new laws would require the purchase of an adequate barge, and a number of entities would have to sign off on a show over the lake, including Army Corps of Engineers, Department of State Lands, Linn County Commissioners, Linn County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Fire Marshal.
Looking forward, however, Leisinger informed The New Era there are conversations happening that might give hope for fireworks in Sweet Home once again.
