43rd Annual Cherry Festival

Welcome

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome you to the 43rd annual Northwest Cherry Festival.

A long time favorite among locals and visitors alike, the festival is set in the spectacular Columbia River Gorge and showcases The Dalles deep agricultural heritage and Western roots. The Cherry Festival is three days of familyfriendly activities and events.

The Northwest Cherry Festival takes place downtown The Dalles Friday April 19th through Sunday April 21st.

Brenda & Sterling Thomas Cherry Parade Grand Marshall

By neita cecil

For Brenda Thomas -- who along with her husband Sterling Thomas is the grand marshal of the 2024 Cherry Festival Parade -- her role will give her a new perspective on the event.

She has long participated in the parade – as a youth, she remembers having a goat pulling a cart in the parade one year. “Nancy Louise was her name. She was a French Alpine.” Nancy Louise drank Kool-Aid and loved potato chips. “She was a real character.”

In recent years, her family business, Orchard View Farms, has been privileged to serve in the vital role of being the “pooper scooper” behind equestrian events.

“It’s a big step up,” she quipped of her role this year in the parade, which takes place April 20, starting at 10 a.m. and winding through

downtown The Dalles.

But she’ll be back to her customary task in the future. “My favorite job is to scoop poop.”

But she’s grateful for her title this year. “I just think it’s fun how the parade brings the community together, to celebrate cherries.”

She added, “It takes a lot of people to do cherry harvest. It takes a community and a lot of additional people. A lot of people travel from far away to work cherry harvest.”

Thomas was a practicing veterinarian in the community until 2007, and her husband still practices as a relief veterinarian, mainly in Hawaii.

Her two careers share a key element: “Both businesses are people businesses.”

The cherry business, however, is something that can’t just be done anywhere.

“We live in a very special place to raise cherries,” said Thomas, who is president of her family’s 101-year-old business.

She rattled off the Gorge’s special attributes: “We live in a rain shadow from the Cascades. It’s a dry climate. We have slope, good soil, and we have water. Because you can’t raise cherries everywhere in the world. And we have four seasons, that’s another important thing.”

Right now, “We’re busy with the bees, getting ready for the 2024 crop,” she said. “We’re always optimistic at this time of year, and as the cherry industry, we really appreciate the support the community gives to all the growers of cherries, because it’s a very impactful thing for the whole community.”

In the past, Orchard View has grown a variety of crops, including pears and apples, but now focuses primarily on cherries, with a few prunes and plums in the mix. Despite all the cherry varietals orchardists now plant, Thomas’s favorite is an old time classic: the Bing.

While there is always hope for how the harvest will shape up, it’s far too early to make predic-

tions. Right now, (in early April) the fields are abuzz with bees busy pollinating.

With each day that passes, however, the two big questions about harvest become easier to answer. The questions: When will harvest start and what will the yield be this year?

For Thomas, there’s much to love about the work she does. “I enjoy the different seasons, the growing season, the pruning season, off season planting for next year. Things are always changing. It’s never the same day at work.

“It takes a wide variety of people. I’ve enjoyed growing up in the cherry business because a lot of people I’ve worked with I’ve known my whole life,” she said. “I enjoy the neighborhood. I enjoy the people I work with each day and also my neighbors.”

In a few months, trees that are now awash in white cherry blooms will produce a bounty of fruit. Getting that fruit off the trees and on the way to markets domestic and foreign is a process Thomas called “organized chaos. It’s a pretty amazing thing that harvest actually happens, everybody just works together and it just miraculously happens.”

King & Queen Bing

Ken and Liz Polehn, named King Bing and Queen Anne for the 2024 Cherry Festival, have an easy banter about their working lives as owners of Polehn Farms, Inc.

Asked when Ken started working in cherries, he said, “since I was born,” and Liz joked, “longer than that.”

Ken’s parents, Marvin and Donella Polehn, began farming cherry orchards in the mid-1950s, shortly after they got married.

Ken said his parents were among the first to be named King Bing and Queen Anne for the Cherry Festival. Now, to follow in their footsteps is “an honor,” he said.

“We’ve dedicated our whole lives to the cherry industry so it’s kind of nice to get recognized.”

The Cherry Festival runs this year from April 19-21, featuring a parade on Saturday, April 20, beginning at 10 a.m., and a carnival downtown.

For more information, visit https://www.thedalleschamber.com/northwest-cherry-festival.

The Polehns run one of only two packing houses in Wasco County. He’s in charge of the orchard work, and Liz oversees the packing house.

“Nothing more satisfying than to be out there at daylight and hearing people taking and fruit hitting the bucket,” Ken said.

As for the packing house, Liz said, “for me it’s about community and family.” She noted many families return every year to work for them. “Salt of the earth people,” Ken said.

Liz said harvest time is “almost like going to summer camp and seeing your friends. It’s a team effort of everybody coming together and making it all happen.”

Both lauded their employees who help bring in the harvest every year. “Families that return

liz & ken polehn

year after year after year are the backbone of our success,” Ken said. “We have just fabulous people to work with.”

Asked if he’d do this career all over again, Ken said, “Yeah, I would. I think Liz would run screaming for the hills.”

As to whether she’d really do that, it’s all boils down to when exactly you ask her.

“I enjoy the challenge,” she said. “But ask me July 23, when I’ve been working 16- hour days. That’s when I’m usually over it.”

But Liz is ultimately on board with it. “Cherries have really been pretty good to us, over time. There’s always something to learn.”

As with many industries, significant changes have happened over the decades. In the early years, much of the cherry crop was used for processed fruit, such as maraschino and cannery fruit.

“We grew Bings for cannery and Royal Annes for maraschinos,” Ken said. As the years have gone by, the number of cherry varietals they plant has at least tripled, to at least 12 or so, and they’ve switched to the fresh fruit market. Now, 40-60 percent of their yield stays in the domestic fresh market, and the rest goes abroad, mostly to Asia.

All those new varietals, which are planted at different elevations, ripen at different times, stretching what was once a two-week harvest into a 5-8 week marathon.

But the biggest change is, the previously more seasonal work in cherries has now stretched to a yearround effort. “There’s no downtime anymore,” Ken said. “And it’s really about ensuring quality for the next year, as best you can.”

Since their product is fresh, speed is critical in reaching the market. Just three days after a cherry is picked, it has landed in an airport in an Asian country.

While Ken grew up here, Liz is from San Francisco. She did spend summers in The Dalles with her grandma (Liz’s mom is from The Dalles), and ultimately attended high school here, graduating from Dufur.

Both of the Polehns, who have three kids and seven grandkids, are high energy people who have been extensively involved in the community their entire lives.

Ken sits on the Wasco County Fair Board, has twice been president of the Wasco County Farm Bureau, and has been a member of the Wasco County budget committee and the Wasco County property tax appeals board.

Liz has both volunteered and been paid staff at Home at Last animal shelter. She also helped revive and run the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank for years, has been a 4-H leader, and has served on the Little League board. “I was the lady who bought all the hotdogs and Laffy Taffy, made sure there was enough popcorn.”

She also sits on The Dalles Irrigation District Board. As for her work with the animal shelter, she said it was about addressing community needs. “Animal problems are ultimately people problems.”

Ken noted, “I guess we’re both kind of fixers by nature. You see a problem, ‘Oh, I can fix that.’”

Both have also served on their church’s board.

Asked why he’s so involved, Ken said, “Honestly, it’s a sense of just giving back to the community.”

Little Royals

Hudson Grant & Camila Garcia Beach

The 43rd Northwest Cherry Festival is pleased to announce our Little Royals Contest, sponsored by Rivermark Community Credit Union! Since the very first crowning of the Little Royals in 1988, this time-honored tradition has warmed the hearts of our entire community. Candidates must be between the ages of four and seven and may be entered into the contest at The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce at NorthwestCherryFestival. com a few weeks prior to the event!

Our community votes every year for our Little Royals! The winning candidates get to ride in the Cherry Festival Parade along with the other Cherry Festival Royalty. The Little Royals will receive a backpack full of fun goodies from Rivermark Community Credit Union. This year’s Royal Court Coronation, with the crowning of Little Miss Royal Ann and Little Mister Royal Andy, along with King Bing and Queen Anne, will take place during the Cherry Festival Breakfast which will be held at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center on Saturday, April 20th at 8:00 am.

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE NORTHWEST CHERRY FESTIVAL

NEW MEMBER SAVINGS

5.00 % APY*

• No minimum deposit to open

• No monthly service fees

rivermarkcu.org/switch

503.626.6600

1240 W 6th St

• The Dalles

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) applies to first $100,000 of account balance for 15 months; 0.05% APY applies to portion over $100,000. Available for new members only within first 30 calendar days of establishing new membership. Limit one New Member Savings account per member; must be age 18 or older. Offer subject to change without notice. Federally Insured by NCUA.

Events

CASCADE SQUARE MERCHANTS WINDOW CONTEST – WE NEED YOUR VOTES

Wednesday • April 17th thru Saturday •

April 20th • WINNER IS ANNOUNCED Sunday

Various Locations throughout The Dalles

COLUMBIA GORGE HONDA & TOYOTA CHERRY TRAIL

Friday

April 19th thru Sunday

April 21st

Various Locations throughout The Dalles

RAINIER AMUSEMENTS CARNIVAL

Friday • April 19th thru Sunday

First St, The Dalles

LITTLE MUSIC CITY

April 21st

THE DALLES CIVIC COMEDY NIGHT

Friday • April 19th • 7:30 PM • $25 at the door

323 E 4th Street, The Dalles

ADVENTIST HEALTH COLUMBIA GORGE

OPEN-AIR MARKET

Artists • Crafter • Food Vendors • More

Friday • April 19th • 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Saturday • April 20th • 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sunday • April 21st • 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Between 1st & 2nd St, Court to Laughlin St

UNDERRINER FORD OF THE DALLES & ROUTE 30 ENTERTAINMENT STAGE

Entertainment Stage

Dining Area

Family

Friendly Beer Garden • 2nd & Federal St

Friday • April 19th thru Sunday • April 21st

Live Music at Various Locations in The Dalles

Check TDCommunityCalendar.com for Live Music Around The Dalles

CHERRY FESTIVAL FRIDAY NIGHT

CRAFT NIGHT WITH 15 MILE WINERY

Friday • April 19th • 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

623 E 2nd St, Suite A, The Dalles

MOOSE LODGE 2075 PUTT-PUTT TOURNAMENT

Friday

April 19th

7:00 PM

233 E 3rd St, The Dalles

$40 per Team

Friday April 19th

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm • Tyler Boeh Beat Boxer & Comedian

6pm - 7:30 pm • Roll On - Tribute to Alabama

Saturday April 20th

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm • Dancing Horse

Performance (on Laughlin and 2nd St)

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm • The Dalles Dance

Academy Performance

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm • The New Prohibitions

5:30 pm - 6 pm • Cherry Pie Eating Contest

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm • Shades of Huey

Sunday April 21st

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm • Grupo Super Escandialo

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm • Chervona

RIVERMARK COMMUNITY CREDIT

UNION CHERRY FESTIVAL ROYALTY

CORONATION & MID COLUMBIA SENIOR CENTER COMMUNITY BREAKFAST

Saturday • April 20th

8:00am • Breakfast

8:30 am • Coronation

Mid-Columbia Senior Center • 9th & Cherry Heights

RIVER CITY ABATE ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR RUN & POKER RUN

Saturday • April 20th • 9:00 am

Start at COASTAL FARM & RANCH PARKING LOT

NW NATURAL CHERRY FESTIVAL PARADE

Saturday • April 20th • 10:00 am

Starts at Sixth & Webber and travels the normal parade route through town

KELLY BARLETT PROFESSIONAL LEGO BUILDER

Saturday • April 20th • 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

722 Court Street, The Dalles Public Library

CHERRY FESTIVAL QUILT SHOW

Saturday • April 20th • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

St. Peter’s Landmark & Herbring House Courtyard

405 Lincoln Street • 314 West 3rd Street

SANDOZ FARM CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY

Saturday • April 20th • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

5755 Mill Creek Road, The Dalles

SPRING VENDOR FAIR

Saturday • April 20th • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

323 E 4th Street, The Dalles Civic Auditorium

TOUCH A TRUCK & COMMUNITY SAFETY FAIR

Saturday • April 20th • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

323 E 4th Street, The Dalles Civic Auditorium

KODL CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Saturday • April 20th • 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Awards at 3:00 pm

Federal Street between 2nd Street & 4th St

UMPQUA BANK COMMUNITY FAIR

Saturday • April 20th • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Parking lot at 2nd & Washington Street

MOOSE LODGE 2075 POKER TOURNAMENT

Saturday • April 20th • 1:00 PM

233 E 3rd St, The Dalles

MOOSE LODGE 2075 CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

Sunday • April 21ST • 2:00 PM • $40 per Team

233 E 3rd St, The Dalles

Cherry Trail Adventure

Sponsored by: Columbia Gorge Toyota & Honda

Join our Cherry Trail Adventure during the Northwest Cherry Festival, April 19-21, in The Dalles! Visit local businesses for cherry specials, snap photos or do bonus questions to earn points to win prizes & enjoy 3 days of festive fun. Follow the link to GooseChase app and type in the code: Cherry2024 to start your adventure!

Window Decorating Contest NEEDS your votes!

Sponsored by: Cascade Square Merchants

Some of our amazing businesses in town have decked out their storefronts for the Northwest Cherry Festival. You get to vote each day, Wednesday – Saturday to determine our winners. Use the link to begin your voting and enjoy the Festival.

www.explorethedalles.com/window-contest

Together with numerous charitable organizations, we’re working to make this the kind of place we can call home.