City of Woodland prepares to celebrate its 96th annual community festival
Michael McCormic Jr.
For Clark County Today
WOODLAND — Beginning on Thursday, Woodland’s weekend-long, city-wide celebration of the town’s farming heritage brings excitement and community pride to its people.
Planters Days, which takes an entire year of planning and organization leading up the event, kicks off on Thursday, a day entirely for the children, with the opening of the carnival at Horseshoe lake park. A children’s parade will make its way down Davison Avenue later in the day at 5 p.m., and at 6 p.m., free carriage rides down the parade route will be available for children and families.
For the older children, Woodland plans to recognize outstanding youth in the community with the coronation of the Planters Days Queen at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Horseshoe Lake Park.
Closing out the first day of Planters Days, a fireworks show sponsored by the Port of Woodland is scheduled to take place at 10 p.m..
On Friday, will likely be the slowest day at the festival as planners, business owners, and community members gear up for the weekend celebration. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friends of the Woodland Community Library will hold a book sale, and the carnival will continue to operate from 1-11 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars office on Davidson Avenue will open its doors to the public beginning at 4 p.m., and Bingo will be held in the Middle School Commons at 6:30 p.m.
Planters Days will pull the stopper on fun and excitement on Saturday, beginning at 7 a.m. with two breakfasts across town; one hosted by VFW Post 1927, and the other hosted by the Moose Lodge.
At 8 a.m., the parade floats will begin to assemble at the beginning of the parade route. If it is anything like years prior, spectators can expect plenty of small businesses, veterans associations, churches, law enforcement, and political candidates to make their way through the street when the parade begins at 11 a.m..
The Firemen’s Pit Barbecue, a favorite among Planters Days regulars, will begin serving up freshly barbecued beef sandwiches promptly at noon, while the Military Vehicles Collectors takes place at Horseshoe Lake Park at 12:30 p.m.
Another Woodland community favorite event, the 51st Annual Frog Jump, organized yearly by the Hansen Family, welcomes area residents to compete wild-caught frogs to see who’s frog can jump the farthest. The Frog Jump competition begins at 1:30 p.m. and goes until all frogs have competed.
Beginning at 4 p.m., the Planters Days Bed Race, sponsored by Woodland True Value, offers hefty prizes for those who can race their beds the fastest down Davidson Avenue.
After the beds have rolled out, classic cars and modern feats of automotive engineering alike will roll in for the cruise in down Davidson Avenue at 7 p.m., while live music provided by Billy Hagen’s Group 60 plays on the Stage at Hoffman Plaza.
Wrapping up Planters Days on Sunday, the Saturday Market will extend its business hours a day later than usual, and the car show will remain open as well, while street vendors serve up deep-fried comfort food. A talent contest at noon on the Stage at Hoffman Plaza will hand the microphone to area residents looking to entertain the masses, and Planters Days will close its 96th year later that afternoon.
For more information on Woodland Planters Days, visit https://www.planters-days.com/ .
