Past Cheese Days Parades featured bigfoot captured for Cheese Days by Jim Wallace of GeeCee's. Bigfoot was released back into the wild after the parade.
It's here, one of the best events of the county, Cheese Days is this weekend. Many of us look forward to the weekend, we get to see family and friends.
Toledo Cheese Days begins on Thursdays with a Kick off Celebration with a toast to the Big Cheeses. There will be handmade items as well, this takes place at Morgan Arts Centre. Let's not forget the Thursday Market, hope to see you there!
Every Cheese Days, they select the Big Cheeses, this year was no exception. Ken and Joan (Wallace) Norbert, Marilyn Dee Gries Mansur, Elaine and Gordon Schillinger and Margared "Peggy" Gries Ramsey. The Big Cheeses will be rolling through Toledo during the parade, don't forget to look out for them.
Then Friday, it gets a little busier. This year, you can listen to Chris Guenther on Friday evening. During the day Friday, the Cheddar Open Golf Tournament, Tennis Tournament and the all important, Frog Jumping contest will be going on.
Then comes Saturday, it's a zoo in Toledo. You have a few places for breakfast, Donna's Place and the Toledo Senior Center. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m., it's always a very enjoyable parade. Toledo Cheese Days events are the most popular events in South County throughout the year. This year will be no exception.
Don't forget to stop at the Presbyterian Church for your free cheese sandwiches, they are always soooo good.
One of the big events is the car show, they have always filled the field at the middle school. They also have food vendors and art vendors, as well as informational booths up on the hill.
Toledo Fire Department will offer an open house starting at 12:30 p.m. While you are there, say hello to Chief Mike Dorothy.
Sunday Cheese Days is still going strong, they have an all-class reunion, then a Toledo Lions Club BBQ ad then a Lions Club Beef auction followed by the 18th annual Pie Auction.
Mike Morgan, who is involved in Cheese Days stated, "Be sure to come to Toledo for Cheese Days. A splendid time is guaranteed for all." He is 100% correct, Cheese Days brings a smile to everyone's face!
Mayor Steve Dobosh, who was raised in Toledo, has been attending Cheese Days for decades. He stated, "Cheese Days has always been a fun event for the community. We look forward to new people discovering what Cheese Days is all about." If you get a chance, ask Mayor Dobosh about his experience with catching frogs for the weekend, it will leave you in stitches.
I spoke with Ron Smith a few weeks ago and he stated this will be his last year selling ads. Ronnie has done an incredible job, he gets the ads for the booklet we all enjoy!
The attendance is always the largest of all the small communities in South County. A big thank you goes out to the Toledo Lions Club.
Toledo Cheese Days Schedule
Thursday, July 7
Toledo Made
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Art Gallery 505
205 Cowlitz Street
Toledo Thursday Market
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Located by boat ramp next to the bridge
Cheese Days Kick-Off Celebration
$10 entry fee
Begins at 6:00 p.m.
Morgan Arts Centre
Friday, July 8
26th Annual "Cheddar Open" Golf Tournament
$70 per person (lunch provided)
Newaukum Valley Golf Course
153 Newaukum Golf Drive,
Chehalis
Registration at 9:15 a.m.
Shotguns start at 10:00 a.m.
More information: 360-864-6474
Tennis Tournament
$5 entry fee per event
Begins at 3:00 p.m.
Pre-register at Betty's Place or contact Signora Armstrong at 360-864-2599
Frog Jumping Contest
$1 per frog race
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Toledo High School Football Field
Frogs available for rent.
More information: Adam Hackett 360-508-1764
Bingo: TBD
Check at toledolionsclub.org
Music in the Street
Starts at 8:00 p.m
Both Friday and Saturday
Ramsey Way
Outside Donna's Place
Saturday, July 9
Ham & All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast
$6 donation
7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Toledo Senior Center
22nd Annual Car & Motorcycle Show
7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Toledo Middle School field
More information: Brad Dykstra 360-508-3674
Cheddar Challenge!
$10 entry fee or
$18 fee with T-shirt
Registration 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
Toledo Fire Station
3 mile run/walk begins at 8:00 a.m.
More information: Kristi Marcil 360-219-3177
Toledo Library Bake & Book Sale
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
241 Cowlitz Street
Food and Assorted Vendors
Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Toledo Middle School
Toledo Cheese Days Parade
Starts at 11:00 a.m.
Parade route: starts at 5th and Augustus, moves east on Augustus to 2nd, continues south on 2nd to Oak, then west on Oak to 5th
Free Cheese Sandwiches
After the parade
Presbyterian Church
Barbecue sponsored by Toledo Market Fresh
Cost $9.99
Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Toledo Market Fresh
Toledo Fire Department Open House
Starts at 12:30 p.m.
Toledo Fire Department
Community Auction
Starts at 1:00 p.m.
Toledo Middle School Field
Wine and Cheese Tasting
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Steamboat Landing
115 Ramsey Way
Sunday, July 10
Horseshoe Tournament
$5 entry fee
Sign up at 8:00 a.m.
Starts at 8:30 a.m.
Kemp Olson Toledo Community Park
More information: Stan Spears 360-864-2096
All-Class Reunion
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Kemp Olson Toledo Community Park
Toledo Lions Club Beef BBQ
Bring your own chair
Adults $8, Seniors and Children $7
Noon to 3:00 p.m.
Kemp Olson Toledo Community Park
Lions Club Beef Auction
2:30 p.m. (following the Barbecue)
Kemp Olson Toledo Community Park
18th Annual Pie Auction
Begins at 3:00 p.m.
Put on by the Toledo Volunteer EMS and Firefighters Association