By Bill Sullivan and Jason Miller
posted 7.7.09

Concrete will bustle even more from July 24–26, when two annual events—the Concrete Old-Fashioned Vintage Fly-In and Cement City Street Fair—will bring out the crowds.
In its 27th year, the Fly-In sports a new, more descriptive name and promises to be bigger and better than ever, said Jim Jenkins, who is organizing the event with Larry Mitchell.
“It’s an excellent way to attract pilots to the laid-back airfield environment, and introduce the public to a unique setting with an aircraft museum,” he said.
The Fly-In will be open free of charge Friday through Sunday, July 24–26, from 9 a.m. till dusk. Parking and camping on the airfield are available at no charge; the Pilot’s Lounge is available for Fly-In aviators at no charge.
Concrete’s Fly-In has come a long way from its first take-off back in 1982, when current Concrete resident Ralph Prisel organized it. Six planes got the event started, and it has grown quite a bit since then. This year, Jenkins and Mitchell expect between 100 and 200 aircraft to touch down, depending on the weather.
Fun events are on tap, including helicopter rides, hot-air balloon burnoffs, and a movie night in the museum hangar (see schedule, this page, for details).
As for food, look for the Concrete Fire Department, Reverie BBQ, and Perks Espresso to fill the bill. A Saturday morning breakfast hosted by the Concrete Lions will be served in the high school cafeteria from 7 to 11 a.m. (see “Community Fundraisers,” p. 5).
To keep aviators and attendees safe, the Civil Air Patrol will manage ground control. Although the event has an enviable safety record, a twin-engine Beechcraft Model 18 landed long in 1994 and ground-looped at the west end of the airfield, clipping a parked aircraft. There were no injuries and the airport has been accident-free to date.
Local aviator Jack Mears, who has been involved with the Fly-In for more than 20 years and served as its organizer for the past five years, feels the event has short- and long-term benefits.
“The Fly-In exposes a beautiful area that would not otherwise be known about. Several initial-event visitors have become permanent residents of our communities,” he said. “The event benefits upriver communities and merchants by bringing in a revenue stream that normally would not be generated.”
Editor’s note: Fans of radio-controlled aircraft might want to show up the weekend before, July 18–19, when the Big Bird RC Fly-In buzzes in to the airport.

Concrete Old-Fashioned Vintage Fly-In
Schedule of events

July 24–26, 9 a.m. till dusk.
Skagit Aero Museum open all weekend.

7.24  Early aircraft arrivals, hot-air balloon burnoffs (eve.)
7.25  Aircraft arrivals, aircraft judging; helicopter rides, east end of field; Eric Lindbergh speaks between 3
and 4 p.m.; Skagit Vintage Old Car club display, museum taxiway; Short Wing Piper Assn meeting; movies at Skagit Aero Museum
hangar, 8 p.m.; hot-air balloon burnoffs (eve.)
7.26  Breakfast available, Pilots Lounge; Aircraft awards, museum hangar, 10 a.m.; aircraft departures and fly-bys

Cement City Street Fair
Running concurrently with the Fly-In on Saturday, July 25, the Cement City Street Fair will enjoy its second year of existence.
Sponsored by United General Hospital and the Concrete Chamber of Commerce, the street fair emphasizes health, fitness, and family fun.
Scheduled events include health screenings and healthful food from United General’s Coho Cafe, as well as live music, arts and crafts booths, a poetry and music festival, and the Cinder Shins 5K Fun Run.
For details, see the schedule on this page, go to www.concrete-wa.com, or call 360.856.7662.

Cement City Street Fair
Schedule of events

July 25, 9 a.m. till 4 p.m.

7.25 all day: Health screenings, wellness resources, food, arts & crafts; float trips from Pacific NW Float Trips, Baker River mouth, 11 to 5; Poetry & Music Festival, 2–4 p.m.; Cinder Shins Fun Run, 3 p.m.; Bear Square performances: Barefeet, 10–11:30; Marcia Kester, 11:30–2; Stephen Duster, 2–4; Hank Cramer at the Concrete Theatre, 7 p.m.