SEDRO-WOOLLEY — It’s an event that ushers in the summer, entertains and — organizers hope — draws shoppers to a downtown that, frankly, has seen better days.
Sedro-Woolley’s 16th annual Blast From The Past, featuring live music, a car show and racks and racks of sidewalk-sale items, hits the streets Friday and Saturday.
“It brings people to town is what it’s all about,” said David Bricka, executive director of the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the 1950s-themed event.
Bricka remembers a few decades back, when what is now called Blast from the Past was simply a traditional sidewalk sale. The only frills were the bags of peanuts handed out to shoppers — a tradition that has survived to this day.
“I vividly remember coming down the night after I graduated from high school to the sidewalk sale, to get peanuts and walk up and down the streets,” he said.
The Chamber’s current formula works, according to those who participate.
“It’s getting bigger and bigger every year ... even with fewer retail establishments involved,” said Dyrk Meyers, part owner of Oliver-Hammer Clothes Shop on Metcalf Street.
Retail stores have a diminished presence at Blast from the Past compared to 12 years ago, when Meyers first got involved; there are fewer stores downtown, he said. But the event is a boon for his business. Meyers said he prepares all year for the two-day sale and moves a lot of excess inventory with deep discounts.
Meyers said the busy atmosphere reminds him of Christmas time.
“We move a lot of merchandise out of here,” he said.
Blast from the Past is intended to be family-friendly. Live music, provided again this year by Sedro-Woolley’s own Smith Brothers, will start at noon on the gazebo at Hammer Heritage Square downtown. The band plays old-fashioned rock and roll, consistent with the event’s theme.
The square also will host a series of contests that should attract all ages Saturday afternoon, including pie-eating and hula-hooping, to revive a famous 1950s fad.
The car show will be held again on Saturday on Metcalf Street. Last year the show thrived with the fair weather, drawing about 100 cars.
The event is billed as a “classic” car show, but all comers are welcome, said Tim McCray, one of the organizers.
A local owner has two prehistoric “Stanley Steamers,” stream-driven automobiles that usually make the show, McCray said. The young crowd with its more modern interest in modified Japanese cars and trucks also is welcome.
“All we ask them to do is turn down their boom boxes,” McCray said.
• Ralph Schwartz can be reached at 360-416-2138 or .
