Washington Summer Classic coming June 3-5

The Washington Summer Classic returns next weekend, with three days of family-friendly outdoor activities running from Thursday to Saturday, June 3-5, in Washington Central Park.

Washington Area Chamber of Commerce community coordinator Alisha Davis said that while the event would be closer to normal than last year’s mid-pandemic timing, many schedule changes spurred by COVID-19 would stick around for functional reasons.

“We had a ton of people participate, more than usual, and it was just a really good day, so we decided to keep (the tractor parade) on Saturday and then make it one big parade, (and) merge it with our Ridiculous Day parade,” Davis said. “Sidewalk sales … turned into three days, too, due to COVID, because usually it’s always been just on Saturday but last year we decided to spread it out so we could spread out the crowds, and we decided it was going to stay that way because it was a record year for them in sales.”

Davis said the three-day sidewalk sales were central to the Chamber’s “Ridiculous Days,” a 74-year-old tradition that started with people wearing eccentric outfits, but evolved into a retail event for local businesses.

“I’m looking forward to a really fun weekend and a lot of people coming down and celebrating a kickoff to summer,” Davis said.

Thursday, June 3: Thursday Night Live

5-7:30 p.m. Farmers market

6 p.m. Live Music from Henry Eicher

7:30 p.m. Live Music from Johnny & The Quest

Friday, June 4: Family Day

1-7 p.m. Free swimming for the first 175 participants at Steele Family Aquatic Center, courtesy of YMCA Washington.

4-8 p.m. Various activities, including games, pony rides, a photo booth, Face Art, and Touch-a-Truck, where kids can explore fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, tractors and construction vehicles.

5-8 p.m. Live music and bandstand activities presented by CityPoint Church.

8 p.m. A screening of “The Big Green,” in front of the stage, provided with free popcorn by Main Street Washington.

Saturday, June 5: Ridiculous Day

1-5 p.m. Modern Ag display, including a Sinclair Tractor Ride & Drive featuring lawn mowers, tractors and construction equipment.

1 p.m. The Optimist Club will display bikes for a recovered bike auction, which starts at 2 p.m.

3 p.m. sign-up begins for the Kiddie Tractor Pull, which begins at 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m. Registration begins for a Ridiculous Princess and Superhero Contest. The Princess and Superhero contests begin at 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

4-6 p.m. Antique tractor parade from the fairgrounds to the retirement homes, joining the Ridiculous Day parade when it reaches downtown. The parade route can be found on the Chamber’s website.

5:30 p.m. Ridiculous Day Parade starts downtown

6:30-7:30 p.m. Live Music from Mike Wittaker and Friends