OROVILLE – The Okanogan Borderlands Historical Society brings Heritage and Airport Fly-in Days to Oroville this Friday and Saturday.
The activities surrounding Heritage Days and the Airport Fly-in recount moments in Oroville history and take place around town and at Oroville’s Dorothy Scott Memorial International Airport. These include a historical walk around town, war-time displays at the Depot Museum and information about a world record holding glider pilot who grew up in Oroville building and flying his first gliders here.
There are two events planned for Friday night and they include the first annual Heritage Days Softball Tournament, which starts at 6 p.m. at Bud Clark Memorial Ballfields. The second is a WarTime Tea at the Peerless Restaurant. The grand dame of Oroville’s restaurants is being especially opened for the tea and tickets are limited so act fast if you want to go, say historical society members. The tea will feature desserts from the Civil War, World War I and World War II eras, along with music, fashion and more promise organizers.
On Saturday, the Heritage Day activities start with the “Tales of History” Walk at 8 a.m. Participants are asked to meet at the Depot Museum for a downtown walk with “stories you may never heard.” The Farmer’s Market also takes place in front of the public library on Main Street from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. The softball tournament continues at Bud Clark Fields beginning at 9 a.m. as well. And, the historical McDonald Cabin, one of the first U.S. Custom Houses in the area, will be open for walk-throughs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Fly-in activities begin at Dorothy Scott Memorial Airport starting at 7 a.m. with a pancake and sausage breakfast. Gliders in Oroville, recounts the World Record that was held by Oroville’s Clyde Artman. A PowerPoint presentation on the man will begin at 10 a.m. and the historical society has prepared a special kiosk featuring information on Artman.
Several Heritage Day events will be happening on the Depot Veranda on Saturday. Betty Roberts will present spinning and more with demonstrations on her homemade wooden spinning wheels. The Oroville Garden Club will have their yard sale and the Senior Citizens will be offering homemade pies and special ice cream.
Entries from the tractor show, which can be seen on Appleway, will parade around the block at 11:30 from Main Street, by the library, along Ironwood and back to the races on Appleway. The races start at 12 p.m. with a slow race, fast race and obstacle race. Events behind the public library at Madeline Wells Park include vendors and live music. The music starts at 12 p.m.
Jim Weaver will have a Watercolor Art Show at the Oroville Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Twenty percent of the proceeds from sales will go to the Oroville Senior Center building fund.
The Grill Next Door will present a Christmas in July Crafts Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shop Tavern/Subway Sandwiches parking lot.
Veranda Beach Resort will present the Third Annual Wine Maker’s Dinner at 7:30. Email rhonda@verandabeach.com to inquire about attending. To find out about participating in the softball tournament email Steve Quick at squick18@gmail.com. To enter an antique tractor call (509) 476-2570. For more information on the Christmas in July Craft Fair call (509) 476-4205. There are only 80 tickets available to the WarTime Tea at the Peerless, these are available at the Oroville Pharmacy, the Depot Museum or from board members, call (509) 476-2476.