Community Corner
Sumner Celebrates First Annual Rhubarb Days this Saturday
The Sumner Downtown Association invites residents to participate in rhubarb-themed contests and entertainment in Heritage Park on Saturday, July 9th.
Celebrate Sumner’s most beloved historic crop at the first annual festival in this Saturday, July 9. The and many downtown businesses, including Patch, have a whole range of activities and contests planned to tempt children and adults alike.
Included among the festivities is a scavenger hunt. Each of the 11 letters spelling out “Rhubarb Days” will be hidden in a downtown store. Pick up a 'Hunt Form' in one of the stores, fill it out with the location you found each letter in and turn the form into the “Hunt” tent in the Park for a prize.
Other contests include a pie-eating contest at 1 p.m., a bake-off for adults and kids 12 and younger at 1:30 p.m. and a commercial bake-off for Sumner restaurants and bakeries. If you wish to participate in the individual bake-off, make your best rhubarb dish and bring it to the Bake Off Tent. Mayor Enslow, Jeanine Lucas of Heritage Bank and Jeremy Annillo of Sorci’s will judge.
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For the slightly less competitive, carnival-style games will take place in Heritage Park between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Aprons will be displayed in the park, alongside their baking histories. Anyone with an apron is invited to bring it to the park before 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with its story, your name, address and phone number written on a 3 x 5 index card.
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The Rainier Antique Tractor Club will have antique tractors parked in the park for photo opportunities.
A group from Ascension Theatre—“the same group that does Dancing Scarecrows in the fall,” said SDA Executive Director Arla Holschuch—will be performing as Dancing Farmers all day.
Representatives of Master Gardeners, Patch and other organizations plan to set up informational booths in Heritage Park.
The festivities will not be limited to the park. has collected photographs featuring rhubarb and asks fair-goers to stop by and vote for their favorites. is selling its with all of the recipes collected from area residents. Berryland, and will sell delicious rhubarb treats. The Scholz Farm stand will have fresh rhubarb for sale and Mosby Farms will have fresh rhubarb, rhubarb wine, soda and jam.
Residents should take note that Kincaid Avenue will be closed from Maple Street to Main Street all afternoon.
So, why such a great party for rhubarb?
“Primarily, its an important thing for the community to try to preserve the history of the downtown and the community," said Holschuch.