Schedule:

Friday July 12,2024

Bear Festival Stew

Community bear stew vegetable preparation is Friday,at the park kitchen area.  All are welcome to join, just bring a cutting board and peeler!
The McCleary Bear Festival was dreamed up in 1959 by Norman Porter, then editor of the hometown newspaper. It wasn’t that he disliked bears, but he and other residents of this area knew that bears, prior to hibernation when they need extra calories or after hibernation when their preferred food sources are still unavailable, crave the soft layer of sapwood that’s underneath the bark. In order to satisfy their craving, they would often strip a tree of all its bark. They may also damage trees when rubbing vigorously against them to leave their scent. Some bears can cause extensive damage to trees which will result in the tree getting ill and eventually dying.
It started with a remark by a friend of Porter’s, who claimed that Skamania bears, if properly cooked, were the world’s most delicious. The two agreed to meet head-on in a bear-tasting contest in McCleary. Now the civic-minded McClearians became interested, began forming committees and decided to stage something more than just a bear-eating contest. Working with Porter, they created the Second Growth and Bear Festival.

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Kiddie Parade & Grand Parade

Kiddie Parade Starts at 11:45am

Grand Parade Starts at Noon

Grab a chair and wave at all the floats, bands, and parade participants.
Kiddie Parade Participants: Meet at the entrance to Simpson on grass area near registration booth. Line up 11:30am, parade at 11:45am. Theme TBD or just be creative and come join the fun.  Get the entire family involved in your theme! Complete release form, located under form tab on website, and bring with you, or arrive early to complete.
Grand Parade Participants: All units are to report to the check-in book no later than 10:00am at Simpson Door Company parking lot located at 400 Simpson Avenue. Check-in begins at 8:30am. All units must obtain their staging number at check-in.  Judging begins promptly at 10:30am.
2024 Grand Parade Application!
2024 Kiddie Parade Application!

Sunday July 14,2024
Car Show
from 9:00am-4:00pm
Have a vehicle you want to show off? Bring it down to McCleary Bear Festival Sunday, July 14th and join us for a fun day displaying your beauty at our annualCar Show! Registration is $15 and begins at 8:00 a.m. - hope to see you there!
Viewing is free to the public.

Date: July 12 - 14,2024

Location:

Beerbower Park,
100 3rd Street
McCleary, WA 98557

Click Here For More Information