Rhubarb Days back in Sumner with curated vendor selection, rhubarb treats
Rhubarb-infused beer, pie and more can be indulged during the annual Rhubarb Days Festival in downtown Sumner this weekend.
The festival takes place on Main Street and surrounding side streets from Saturday to Sunday starting at 10 a.m. On Saturday, the vendor market and kids zone closes at 6 p.m. The beer garden and main stage are open from noon to 8 p.m. On Sunday, the vendor market, kids zone, beer garden and main stage stay open until 4 p.m, according to the Sumner Main Street Association’s website.
There is no fee to attend.
The event will have about 200 vendors, about 20 food trucks, two live music stages and an expanded kids zone, Lori Waltier, executive director of the association, told The News Tribune via phone call.
The festival kicks off Saturday with a first-ever opening ceremony that starts with a welcome from Sumner Mayor Carla Bowman. The Sumner High School band will perform, Waltier said.
Rhubarb the Reindeer, a long-time mascot for the Tacoma Rainiers, will pay a visit to the kids and take pictures at noon on Saturday, she said.
She said Knutson Farms is the presenting sponsor. Its booth will have plenty of fresh-cut rhubarb along with other items.
Attendees can also expect plenty of different rhubarb treats and drinks to buy.
Sumner Rotary is the main pie booth for the festival. They sell Rhubarb pie slices, crisps, ice cream and whole pies that cost $35, Waltier said. There are other businesses that will sell pie, such as Sumner Cafe.
For folks who are 21 and up, the beer garden will have Rhubarb IPAs and seltzers. Waltier said the music line-up is on the festival website.
She said Rhubarb Days is the town’s signature event. There is a focus on having small businesses as vendors who sell handcrafted and curated items at the festival.
Parking and street closures
From Main Street near the train tracks to just before Wood Avenue will be closed for the festival starting Friday at 3 p.m. Downtown Sumner, along with side streets such as Cherry Avenue, Alder Avenue, Ryan Avenue and Sumner Avenue, will reopen 9 p.m. Sunday, according to the City of Sumner.
Waltier said parking tends to be a challenge for the festival, and the Rhubarb Days website will have more information on that. She added that the Sumner food bank is holding a parking fundraiser at Sumner High School’s parking lot, Sunset Stadium. Parking will be $10, and the money will support the food bank.
More information on the festival can be found on the Rhubarb Days website.
