Mattawa Community Days this weekend

MATTAWA — This Saturday, Aug. 3, is the annual Mattawa Community Days celebration.

“Right now, it is put on by Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce, the first Saturday in August,” said Diane Hyndman, one of the organizers.

This year, the Grand Marshal will be Padre Alex. The parade, which travels down Government Road from the Shell station to Hund Park, starts at 10 a.m.

Prior to the parade, breakfast will be served at Hund Park from 7 to 9 a.m. It is free to anyone wishing to attend.

The community run starts at 8 a.m. Registration begins at 7 a.m. It begins at the CBHA Wahluke Clinic, 601 Government Rd. in Mattawa.

After the parade is over, activities will begin at Hund Park. There will be booths, food vendors and the Wanapum Native American Discovery Unit.

There will also be several contests. One will be a belly buster burrito contest. The person with the fastest time wins. Another will be the hot sucker challenge.

“We see who can keep the spicy sucker in their mouth the longest,” Hyndman said.

Two contests open to businesses in town are the taco contest and salsa contest.

“We want to see who makes the best tacos and salsa in our community,” said Hyndman. “It will be interesting to see who is judged the best on that one.”

Those interested in entering any of the contests should direct messages to the Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook or email mattawaareachamberofcommerce@yahoo.com.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@suntribunenews.com.