Fort Umpqua Days
31Aug2024Fort Umpqua Days is a two-day celebration of local history held on Labor Day weekend each year. This year’s event is extra special, because it’s also ECEC’s 25th Anniversary!
Join us for live music, good food, history demonstrations, a wine garden, and butterfly tours & adoptions. Take a stroll through the gardens, shop at a wide selection of Artisan booths, and take part in the fun interactive history-themed activities for visitors all weekend long. Enjoy the small-town charm during the hometown parade, pie auction and Elkton’s Annual Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant at the amphitheater. NEW this year–our first ever Mullet Contest!
Scroll down for details and a schedule of activities.
Coming from out of town? Make a weekend of it and enjoy all that Elkton has to offer!
Join the fun and celebrate
historic Fort Umpqua
Labor Day Weekend 2024!
FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT THE FORT
Visit ECEC’s replica of historic Fort Umpqua 9 AM – 5 PM Saturday and Sunday and see historical re-enactors portray life in the mid-1800s. Press your own cider and try your hand at grinding corn. Kids can participate in a voyageur expedition, obstacle course, live animal exhibits, and history-themed crafts.
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT!
Start your morning with pancakes served by the local Lion’s Club from 7 – 11 AM (both days). Then head downtown Elkton at 10 AM on Saturday for the annual Fort Umpqua Days parade that travels along River Road to ECEC.
Eat and dance your way through the rest of the weekend! The Elkton Baptist Church is grillin’ up burgers & dogs for lunch both days to raise funds for ECEC’s educational programs. Stop by the student-run Outpost Café anytime between 9 AM and 5 PM for a smoothie, coffee drink & the house special butterfly cookie. Elkton’s wineries will be pouring their best in the wine garden on Saturday from 11 AM – 5 PM (sponsored by River’s Edge Winery). And you won’t want to miss the popular Pie Auction Saturday at 1 PM with guest auctioneer Braden Groth!
Enjoy live music Saturday with The Sunny Sky Boys.
NEW THIS YEAR: The first-ever Mullet Contest on Sunday at 1 PM! Rock your ‘do for a chance to win a $100 prize in one of three age categories; there will be a prize for the best mullet wig too!
The Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant happens Saturday AND Sunday from 5 PM -6 PM, featuring local actors and musicians, and lots of small-town charm.
This year’s pageant tells the story of ECEC’s 25 years of community building in Elkton, through humorous stories & songs about the growth of the Elkton Community Education Center over the years. There will be a special cupcake party after Saturday’s pageant to celebrate!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES & MORE!
Shop until you drop with local artisans 10 AM – 4 PM. Enjoy our extensive gardens as you stroll along the paths to Fort Umpqua where you will step back in time with trappers and traders ~ oh my! Cool off in the Library to admire the current art exhibit by Ray Miller, and be sure to grab a raffle ticket for this year’s quilt at the gift shop 9 AM – 5 PM before and during the big event. The winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday at the pageant.
Last but not least–don’t miss a chance to learn about our native butterflies in our butterfly pavilion and to Adopt-a-Butterfly before the Monarchs start their fall migration.
Fort Umpqua Days 2024
Schedule of Events
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31ST
7-11 Lion’s Club Breakfast
9-5 Butterfly Tours, Fort Umpqua Encampment, Gift shop & Café Open
10-11 Parade on River Road (Sponsored by Elkton RV Park)
10-4 Artisans, Butterfly Adoptions, Historic Demos & Native American Cultural Presentations at the Fort (Artisan & Vendor Plaza sponsored by Lexeme Winery)
11-2 Burgers & Dogs from the Grill (Sponsored by Elkton Baptist Church & A Generous Local Donor) FREE LUNCH FOR KIDS AGES 1-18
11-1 Live Music: The Sunny Sky Boys (Sponsored by Big K Guest Ranch & Outfitters)
11-5 Wine & Beer Garden (Sponsored by River’s Edge Winery)
1-2 Pie Auction
2:30 Chain Saw Carving Demo
5-6 Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant Performance (Sponsored by the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation)
6pm ECEC’s 25th Anniversary Cupcake Celebration! (Sponsored by Brandborg Winery)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST
7-11 Lions Club Breakfast
9-5 Butterfly Tours, Fort Umpqua Encampment & Tours, Gift shop & Café Open
10-4 Artisans, Butterfly Adoptions & Fort Activities
11 Chain Saw Carving Demo
11-2 Burgers & Dogs from the Grill FREE LUNCH FOR KIDS AGES 1-18
1 Mullet Contest! (Sponsored by so many local landowners–see list below)
2:30 Chain Saw Carving Demo
5-6 Echoes of The Umpqua Pageant Performance & Quilt Drawing (Sponsored by the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation)
Many Thanks to our Event Sponsors!
Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation
Big K Guest Ranch & Outfitters
Brandborg Winery
Elkton Baptist Church
Elkton RV Park
Generous Local Donor
Lexeme Winery
River’s Edge Winery
City of Elkton
Our Mullet Contest Sponsors:
Jody Smith Guide Service
Beckley Family
Trout Ranch
Madison M3 Ranch
Quinby Ranch
Bend of the River Ranch Air BnB
Lazy Rafter G Ranch
Ray Family Ranch