Pioneer picnic is August 4

The 118th annual Skagit County Pioneer Association Picnic is 11 a.m. Thursday, August 4 at Pioneer Park.

There will be live music provided by the Leif & Sunnie Accordion Duo, historic photographs and biographical accounts displayed for this year’s Pioneer Family of the Year, Skagit County historical information and opportunities to reminisce with old-timers and newcomers.

All are welcome to attend. The $20 entry provides a commemorative ribbon, event program, memorial pamphlet and ticket for the barbecue salmon dinner prepared by the “Good Girls” and served by members of the La Conner Civic Garden Club.

Special honorees will be descendants of Emil and Anna Dalan Nelson, the Skagit County Pioneer Family of the Year.

The Harmony Birthday Club, Territorial Daughters Chapter Two, the Billiken Club and the Edison Women’s Club will be recognized as Pioneer Spirit Award recipients.

Lunch is served at 11:15 a.m. Coffee, tea and other beverages will be made available by the La Conner Sunrise Food Bank.

Pioneer Association President Liza Peth Bott will call the business meeting to order at 12:45 p.m. The agenda includes an invocation, flag salute, group singing, brief association officer reports and a memorial tribute to departed pioneers.

The picnic ribbon allows free admission to the historical museum through the weekend.

The Skagit County Pioneer Association was founded in 1891, but with requirements excessively restrictive, it soon disbanded. In 1904, a Sedro-Woolley group revived the association under less stringent guidelines. Picnics and general meetings have been held ever since.