Celebrating summer: Down-home fun

By Dixon Bledsoe

Roger and Paula Darland moved from San Diego to Scotts Mills more than five years ago and wouldn’t trade their new life for the world.

The 26th annual Scotts Mills Summer Festival on  Aug. 14 is one of many reasons that Scotts Mills is the place they want to be.

Paula Darland, who is responsible for the vendor booths and music this year, can’t wait for the festival.

“I’m excited. It is a wonderful community event. We have some very talented artists, craftsman and jewelry makers, and of course, great food,” she said.

Roger Darland said he likes the fact most of the contests and activities are free.

“Everyone pitches in to make it what it is – a successful small-town festival without the commercialism,” he said, adding Fathead’s barbecue is returning this year and the Holy Rosary Church will sell sno-cones and cotton candy.

The Darlands were not enamored with a few attendees at the 2009 event who caused enough of a ruckus to draw the attention of law enforcement.

“It made us mad that a few people imbibed a bit too much and put a damper on the street dance. This is a family event built for fun, and we will make sure that it remains that,” Paula said.

Vendor booths are lining up with a variety of merchandise, including nursery stock and hand-crafted jewelry. A lampworker will feature pendants, marbles, original art prints, beads, and lamp glass. And of course Roger’s favorite – his wife’s Bahia Soap Co. will have handmade vegetable oil soap with essential oils. Lavender and peppermint are the hot sellers.

Darrel Matthews will have custom wood furniture made from the old Detroit Lake motel. One booth will feature American Indian crafts and another original nature photography.

Paula Darland gives credit to Jennifer Barber, secretary of the Summer Festival committee. Roger serves as vice president, T.R. Williams is president, and Dan Barber is treasurer.

“Those three have served a long time, and Jennifer is a real mover and  shaker. Roger and I are just the newbies,” Paula said.

Barber said she thinks this year’s festival will be a lot of fun.

“Scotts Mills is a great little community. We are having a parade starting at 10 a.m. at the Scotts Mills school, our first annual Barbecue Cook-off (bring your own grills, no generators, have your own fire extinguisher, and judging is at 4 p.m.), a pie-eating contest, a watermelon seed-spitting contest, and a water balloon toss.”

But this is not all just for fun, she advised. “It is a fundraiser for a college scholarship, because each year we award a $500 scholarship to a high school senior who graduated from Scotts Mills Elementary School. This year’s winner is Cassandra Fennimore, a Silverton High School graduate, and we will be awarding her cash scholarship at the festival.”

“The music will be an eclectic group of local musicians playing between noon and 5 p.m., probably with a bluegrass theme,” Darland added.

Vendors can still sign up by calling Paula Darland at 503-874-9575.