Chilly weather didn’t deter spectators and participants from four days of fun at KeizerFEST.
People entered the festival grounds at Keizer Rapids Park to the smells of tacos, cheeseburgers and churros. Families enjoyed meals at covered picnic tables before wandering booths where vendors were selling wood carvings, 3D printed figurines, clothes and more food.
This year’s KeizerFEST, which ran Thursday through Sunday, offered festivities for all ages, including the Bloomin’ Iris KeizerFEST Parade, cornhole and pickleball tournaments, live music performances, a pancake breakfast and more. People enjoyed carnival rides and games this year as well.
Dan Clem, executive director of the Keizer Chamber of Commerce, said the event went well this year. Successes included a large attendance at the pancake breakfast run by Keizer Fire District and held in the festival tent, the efforts of volunteers managing the festival and sponsors ensuring the festival remains free.
Clem said the vendor booths drew steady business. Concerts and the Teen Talent Show were successful, he said.
“We’re just feeling the Keizer love,” Clem said.
A forecast of rain didn’t stop people from lining River Road on Saturday morning for the parade. Some huddled in camping chairs with blankets and umbrellas, to watch as dancers, horses, trucks and floats went by.
A light rain fell a half hour into the parade, but the weather mostly remained dry over the four days.
On Saturday, classic cars purred down River Road carrying Keizer Chamber of Commerce award winners, including First Citizen Joe Van Meter, and some Keizer city councilors. The St. Paul Rodeo court rode horses, crossing the road to greet people on either side, and dancers performed as they moved down the road.
Trucks and the floats in tow were decorated with tassels, irises, and more as they promoted local businesses and organizations. Children – bags and baskets in hand – sat along the curb waving at paraders and accepting candy from them.
As parade entrants lined Northeast Lockhaven Drive and prepared for the parade, several said they joined the parade to promote their organizations and be part of the community.
Parade winners included:
–Most Unique: Creekside Veterinary Clinic
–Spirit Award: Lotus Dance Studio
–Commercial Division: ServiceMaster
–Mayor’s Choice: Casa Bella Construction
–First Citizen’s Choice: Countryside Christian Church
At the KeizerFEST grounds, children lined up to have their faces painted at Nana’s Face Painting, and people gathered inside the big tent to watch musicians. During one Saturday afternoon performance by Joe Stoddard, people sang along to one song and chuckled at another, discussing “Things you don’t say to your wife.”
While attendees felt a chill from the wind on Friday and Saturday afternoon, people carried on through booths, buying meals from food trucks and wandering the carnival. Laughter – and screams – could be heard from children as they rode the small roller coaster, the large swing ride and navigated the funhouse.
The Riverwalk Art Fair, put on by the Keizer Art Association, featured artists from across Oregon displaying wares in booths lining a path near the main KeizerFEST grounds. People could hear the live music as they walked through booths featuring glass art, crochet animals, paintings made with anything but paint brushes, three-string guitars made from cigar boxes and more.
Children painted rocks in a tent dedicated to kids, a new feature this year. They picked their stone from a pile and used paint and brushes to decorate it.
The wind posed an issue for some artists, with Laura Lucht of Lucky Starz grabbing her tent pole to stabilize it and protect her glass artwork. She said the tent of one vendor across from her blew away.
Clem acknowledged the weather as a challenge this year. However, he said the event still had good attendance over the weekend, with the highest attendance on Sunday.
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