Loggers Jubilee--Morton WA

8/15/2021

After COVID-19 in '20 put off the 78th annual Morton Logger’s Jubilee, I was excited to be able to go this year . . . except for the heat. Even though the skies were hazy from far away fires, 92º and humidity kept the ice cones and cold drinks from food vendors in bustling business. I took a couple ice bottles—drink bottles I refill with water and freeze—in a “shiny bag” (cool bag) to protect my legs as best I could, and drank the ice water as it slowly melted. Additionally, hats and sun lotion were in order.
Morton’s Loggers Jubilee website had a helpful map, but I also contacted them to check on accessibility and when it was wise to arrive. The woman went out of her way to help, with photos and info. She said to arrive about 10am or so, in order to ensure getting a parking spot and a good place along the parade route. We arrived a bit after 10am, found the handicapped parking by the handicapped entrance to the arena, walked through the craft vendors, and up the street to Main where the bed races were held.
https://loggersjubilee.com/ check out the information and events tabs in particular
https://loggersjubilee.com/map/

2021 Events
Thurs—Queen Coronation
Fri eve—Lawnmower races (at the arena),
Sat--

8am 10K run
11am bed races on Main Ave
11:30am parade, route: east on Main Ave, then south on 2nd St, west on Westlake Ave
2pm Jubilee Logging Show, at the Jubilee Arena, ended about 5:30pm with the Log Rolling
7pm “Harvey” at the Roxy Theater on Main Ave
9pm-1am Street Dance

Sun—12pm Jubilee Logging Show

Live Musice at the Backyard Grill, Loggers Jubilee weekend

Bed Races on Main Ave

Parade, east on Main Ave, south on 2nd St, then west on Westlake Ave
Great announcer, though at times hard to hear with the noise of the logging trucks. Lots of Logging trucks from near and far, and all over--as far away as Forks WA. It must have been a considerable investment to send all those big trucks to be in the parade. If you have a lover of all kinds of vehicles, this is the event not to miss!

Craft Vendors between 1st and 2nd Streets, and Collar and Westlake Avenues
The field was rather rough and not really ready for manual wheelchairs--bring a motor or a pusher, though people were very willing to help. Maybe at some point the organizers or the community will be able to have the field graded and replanted with grass. Photos below show just a small portion of the many vendors.

Food Vendors southwest of the arena, Westlake Ave & Knittles Way
German sausage & curly fries, wood fired pizza, authentic Mexican, shaved ice and snow cones, elephant ears, rootbeer floats, caramel apples, lemonade, big soft pretzels, burgers, Italian ice . . .

Loggers Jubilee show and competition in the arena--Contestants came from as far away as Montana and Alaska!
A pair of binoculars might be helpful. While they tried to have a contestant for each event at each corner at the same time, sometimes the action was far away. At the price of lumber, the sponsors gave generously for the Jubilee to be staged.

Morton Loggers Jubilee 2021
Video courtesy Juli Spruill

More of Morton WA--we went exploring a bit and saw lots worth enjoying, though some of downtown could use a coat or two of paint, and some of the sidewalks could be smoother for the disabled . . .
https://www.visitmorton.com/
http://www.visitmorton.com/cityofmorton/parksrecreation.html

Riffe Lake Overlook (Riffe Lake created from the Cowlitz River by Mossyrock Dam)
On the way home we had the time to stop at this intriguing view of Riffe Lake.