Experience the 2024 Sandy Mountain Festival through photos!

As the Sandy Mountain Festival volunteers all take a well-earned rest, let's look back at some highlights of the annual community tradition.

The festivities kicked off with the parade on Thursday, July 11, which featured all kinds of different vehicles and characters, including Mountain Man Dan Stevens as the grand marshal, riding atop a vintage convertible. More than 90 groups and businesses entered a float or vehicle in the parade.

The Baker Agency, Avamere, and Harmony Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry were voted the top three floats respectively by the panel of community judges.

"Sandy Mountain Festival parade this year was amazing," Baker Agency founder and real estate broker Grant Baker wrote on social media. "Thank you so much to everyone who helped, walked, participated, you are all the best and we appreciate it so much. The Baker Agency had the best support ever. You are all rock stars."

More than 100 artisans packed the Meinig Memorial Park on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, bringing in crowds despite the heat to shop and also enjoy traditional treats like corn on the cob, Kiwanis bars, elephant ears and more.

"During our festival weekend, we welcomed thousands of visitors from all over Oregon and Washington to Meinig Park," explained Lisa Snider, festival board president. "It was great to see our nonprofit food booths with lines for their delicious food items. (It's) a great fundraiser for all of them."

The Sandy Mountain Festival is an entirely volunteer-run event, and as such is always open to new people getting involved.

Those interested in helping make the 2025 Sandy Mountain Festival happen can visit the website at sandymountainfestival.org for more information.

"It's hard to believe that the 52nd Sandy Mountain Festival is over," Snider added. "I want to thank the festival board for all of their hard work over the last year and especially during our festival weekend to make the event memorable for everyone."