Member-only story
Outhouses racing down Main Street isn’t something you see every day, that’s for sure. In this case, Main Street is Clark Street, and the town is Republic, Washington. The occasion was their annual Winterfest which was held this year on January 19, 2019.
Outhouses were not the only things racing down the center of town; dogs transported kegs of various sizes in hopes of beating the best time in the K-9 Keg Pull. I don’t know if more than one Sasquatch hustled into town for the Sasquatch Calling Contest, but the one I met was very soft-spoken and helpful even though I didn’t have any beef jerky handy.
The sidewalks were crowded with a great turnout; people came from all over and as far as Canada and even Oregon to enjoy the festivities. “This was great for a small town community,” a woman who moved here from Iowa back in October said. “Kids were having a blast.”
Another thing you don’t see every day is an Alpenhorn. Mick Berlincourt, from Eugene, Oregon, was visiting family in Chewelah, and knew he’d be there during Winterfest, so he brought his 65-year-old handmade Alpenhorn in hopes of playing it. Interestingly, the change in notes is done solely by the player — the instrument has no adjustments of that sort on it. As Mick’s niece, Felina Hastings of Colville, said, “It’s all in the lips.” Mick purchased the Alpenhorn because he felt it was…
