Discover Lake Sylvia Fall Festival set for Saturday

By Travis Rains GH Newspaper Group • September 13, 2017 7:00 pm
This year’s festival poster was designed by Beverly Lufkin, who painted it just prior to her death on July 3 as a gift to the state parks and FOSLS.
This year’s festival poster was designed by Beverly Lufkin, who painted it just prior to her death on July 3 as a gift to the state parks and FOSLS.

Food, games and vendors will blend with natural beauty Saturday at the eighth annual Lake Sylvia State Park Fall Festival.

Stet Palmer of the Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia (FOSLS) said this year’s event will include some new activities.

“We changed a few things around, but other than that we’ve pretty much stuck with the formula,” he said.

The festival will run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., kicking off with a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11. Trail races including a half marathon, 10K and 5K start at 8:30.

New this year will be a canoe and kayak paddle, starting at 2 p.m.

Kayaks can be rented on a first come, first served basis. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own kayaks if they have them.

“It’s a fun paddle and is not organized,” Palmer said. “Tour the margins of the lake and see some of the natural surroundings from the water.”

The festival also will include an artist market with 22 vendors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as live music and food booths.

Vintage games for kids will begin at 1 p.m., and nature arts and crafts will be offered all day.

Due to dry conditions and the risk of forest fires, the annual Boy Scout Dutch oven cooking demonstration has been canceled.

Palmer said about 500 people typically show up for the festival, though it is difficult to determine exact numbers because of the way the numbers are tracked, either by head couts or by car counts.

“We’ll see,” Palmer said when asked if FOSLS expects a similar turnout to past festivals. “We’ve done a lot of advertising and put up a lot of posters around town.”

The poster this year was designed by Beverly Lufkin, who painted it just prior to her death on July 3 as a gift to the state parks and FOSLS.

“It was one of the last things she was able to do before she passed away,” Palmer said. “Each year we’ve had great posters, but this is kind of a special one.”

All proceeds from the festival will go toward construction of the Lake Sylvia Legacy Pavilion, a multi-season facility planned at the lake. Palmer said the community has pledged $200,000 for the project and has already collected more than $182,000.

Parking for the festival is limited. Those wishing to park at Lake Sylvia will need a Washington State Park Discover Pass, which are available on-site for $10 for one day or $30 for an annual pass. A free shuttle will run every 15 to 20 minutes to and from Simpson Elementary School for those who choose to park off-site.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2wmF76d.