Cashmere celebrates 45th annual Founders' Days

CASHMERE - Cashmere is celebrating its 45th annual Founders' Days festival this weekend, an event that has grown from a small community celebration into a cherished tradition.

The festival traces its roots back to 1979, when Cashmere marked its 75th anniversary with a Diamond Jubilee celebration. Organized by local business owners and community members, the inaugural event featured a pioneer parade, arts and crafts fair, and community-wide picnic, capturing the spirit of the close-knit community.

Building on the success of the Diamond Jubilee, Cashmere made the celebration an annual affair starting in 1980, renaming it Founders' Days. Early festivals in the 1980s included highlights like the Stillman Miller Hill Climb, where runners raced up a steep local landmark, a Jaycee-sponsored barbecue, street dance, merchants' moonlight sale, and a Snake River Rodeo.

Over the past 45 years, the festival has expanded substantially while still maintaining its small-town charm and focus on family fun. Modern-day Founders' Days span several days and feature a variety of events for all ages.

This year's festival highlights include a pickleball tournament, a car show, a family fun fair and salmon release, beer and cider garden, artisan and food booths, and the Grand Parade.

The event now draws visitors from across the region looking to experience a slice of small-town Americana. Many former Cashmere residents plan trips home to coincide with Founders' Days to reconnect with family and friends.

While the festival has grown and evolved since its inception as the Diamond Jubilee 45 years ago, organizers say it still embodies the original vision of that 1979 celebration - a chance for Cashmere to come together and honor its rich history, community spirit, and bright future. As the city celebrates its 120th anniversary on July 1, Founders' Days continues to be a beloved annual tradition.