Don’t miss the chance to enjoy Native American dancing, singing and drumming, or see a special presentation about “Life in a Small Town,” or tour our local museum for a taste of the past. It’s all here in January!

Start by choosing the weekend that’s most convenient for you. Next, gather up your warm clothing, sturdy boots and waterproof outerwear (expect temperatures to be in the 30s and 40s, and don’t let a little rain scare you away!). Then, spend some time with the activity list online, and select the things you’re most interested in. A lot of what’s offered is free, others have small entry fees, most are “first-come-first-served,” so you’ll want to arrive early.

Have questions? Please contact the Concrete Chamber during the week, or stop in at the Concrete Center when you get to town. The Center is open every Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is staffed with people who can point you in the right direction.

Enjoy your visit, cherish the experience of wildlife and wintertime in this remarkable part of the world.

Join us in October for the Concrete Ghost Walk, where you’ll hear the stories, maybe even meet one or two of these characters from the past.

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Cement City Street Fair on Saturday, July 28
Presented by United General Hospital

North Cascades Vintage Fly In on July 27-29
Presented by Skagit Aero Education Museum

Cascade Days, Saturday & Sunday, August 18 & 19
Presented by Cascade Days Association

If you haven’t been to Concrete to participate in these events before, why not make 2012 the year you visit the most beautiful area of Skagit County? Enjoy the mountain scenery and friendly, laid-back atmosphere!

Need more details? You’re welcome to contact the Concrete Chamber.

Email the Chamber
Phone: (360) 853-8784
Office: East County Resource Center
45770 Main Street in Concrete

The Kuteeyaa Dancers
Native American dancers will perform on Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m in the historic Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main Street in Concrete. Admission is $10. Kuteeyaa is made up of many Tlingit Clans: T’akdeintaan, Wooshkeetaan,  Kiks.ádi, Kaagwaantaan, Deisheetaan, Teikweidí, L’uknax.ádi and Chookaneidí.  They also have members from the Puget Sound area consisting of Quileute and Muckleshoot peoples.

Skagit River Float Trips — the best way to view the eagles — by various local companies, including Skagit River Guide Service.

The Grassmere Village Art Walk & Recycled Art Show
January 21-22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
44568-44586 State Route 20, Concrete
Works from local artisans will be on display and/or for sale in a variety of Grassmere Village shops and restaurants. Included in the show will be the third annual Recycled Art Show, in which entrants are encouraged to be creative with recycled materials. Entry forms, rules and details for both events may be obtained by contacting Anne Bussiere at (360) 853-7227.

Watch for lots more information about the Skagit Eagle Festival coming soon!

If you were unable to attend the Chamber meeting on November 10, please review the notes.

Q. Come on, are there really ghosts in Concrete?

Q. Why a Ghost Walk?
A. Because Concrete has a history of colorful characters and stories. We believe there are many folks who liked the town so much, they decided to stay. After you hear what some of the present-day Main Street merchants have to say, we think you’ll agree. A ghost walk is a fun (and slightly frightening) way to bring the past to life.

Q. What’s an example of a Concrete Ghost Story?
A. The old “Mount Baker Hotel” was built in 1924 by a man named Stoneman to take care of the influx of people during the building of the Lower Baker River Dam. Over the years, the hotel has served as a rooming house, hotel, liquor store, café, barber shop and office building. It was also the bus stop for the Ben Solomon stage line in the early days. According to local story-tellers, if you go upstairs in this building, you may see a little girl about 4, with red hair and a pink shirt. This apparition may try to push you down the stairs but people who have had this experience say that all you can feel is a sort of tingle go through your body. It’s also said you can hear a little girl’s voice saying “The bad woman’s gonna hurt me!” or, “Turn around, the bad woman will hurt you!”

Q. How do I sign up for the Concrete Ghost Walk?
A. Details of the 2011 event.

Read more!

We’re pleased to have the following poets and musicians joining us this year:

Stephany Vogel
Stephany Vogel is a visual artist and poet who has been exhibiting and teaching in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This is the 4th year that Stephany has produced Cement City Poetry & Music.

Dick Harris
Richard Lee “Dick” Harris, Bellingham, returns to the theatre of his youth to read his upriver poems. Harris came to the Upper Skagit River Valley with his parents in 1935. He lived beside the Cascade River, “across the ferry” at Rockport, and in Concrete. While attending Concrete High School, he wrote high school sports and “Teen Topics” for the Concrete Herald. He will have copies of his book Reimagine: Poems, 1993-2009 with him. It is also on sale at Albert’s Red Apple Market. You may learn more about his writing by visiting his website, www.richardleeharris.net.

Jason Miller
Jason lives and writes in Concrete. His poems have appeared in Kinesis, Willow Springs, Northwest Boulevard, and Northwest Literary Forum. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Eastern Washington University and is the publisher and editor of Concrete Herald.

Sam Osteen
Sam’s musical career has run the gamut from garage bands,  lounge acts, an Elvis impersonation show, to blues, punk and heavy  metal rock bands. His most recent work has been providing musical  soundscapes for his wife Betty Bastai’s art installations.

Greg Cardinal
Born in Red Skelton’s hometown of Vincennes, Indiana, and raised in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky to adulthood, Greg  was brought to the Northwest on a family vacation when he was 11 years of age and fell in love with the mountains and forests and people of this great state of Washington. After numerous vacations to the Northwest, he finally realized that it just made sense to move out here. Though music was a part of his early education, he didn’t start studying guitar seriously or writing his own songs until 7 years ago. Now music is the real passion of his life, and he wants to share his observations in song of the human condition.

Bill Jordan
Bill has a strong, sultry voice and dives into the realm of social issues and the love between a father and daughter. He’s been singing since he was 7 years old and playing the guitar since was 9.

Cate Perry
Cate sings at various venues around the area, including Ristretto  in Mount Vernon and Thai Season in Anacortes. Cate writes fiction and teaches secondary English.