LA GRANDE — In the midst of the crazy days of summer La Grande Main Street Downtown is gearing up for the 63rd annual Crazy Days.

Executive Director Monica McLaughlin, along with the Board of LGMSD and the committee that oversees Crazy Days, worked to overhaul the multi-day summer event.

“It was the goal of the board and committee to revamp the event because it is our longest running event and over the years it has gotten stale. It’s been a group effort,” McLaughlin said.

The two-day event kicks off Friday, July 14, with a vendor and sidewalk sale along Adams Avenue. However, McLaughlin said that things will really get crazy the following day.

Adams Avenue, as well as the downtown cross streets, will be jam-packed with activities, competitions and more than 20 craft vendors and food trucks. There will be fun for the whole family, with a bouncy house and face painting

“The businesses are helping make this great. It’s been fun to collaborate,” McLaughlin said.

There will be a lot of food options, she added.

Merlyn’s Catering will be dishing up an “Over-the-Top” breakfast with buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and a build-your-own omelet bar. Sides include honey-cured bacon, orange juice and coffee.

Another food option for Crazy Days will be The Local, McLaughlin said, who will be serving barbecue and beer all day.

Anyone with a competitive spirit will have a lot of options for contests to enter. For those looking to show off their athleticism and skill, McLaughlin suggests checking out the casting or cornhole competitions.

Alpine Archery and Fly is putting on a long-distance fly-fishing casting competition, she said. The contest will be held outside the storefront on 117 Elm St. and comes with the chance to win a $500 prize. Tap That Growler will be hosting the inaugural Crazy Days cornhole tournament. There is a $50 entrance fee per team, which goes toward a cash prize for the top three teams.

La Grande Parks and Recreation is hosting two competitions for those more inclined to express their creativity — a sidewalk chalk contest and paper airplane contest. If sweet things and baking are more your style, McLaughlin said they will also be hosting a pie baking contest. The entry fee is two pies — one will be entered into the competition and the other will be up for bid as part of a pie auction.

There is even a competition going on for the businesses, where store owners can compete for the best window display with a sunflower theme. The community will vote for a winner, who will receive a $125 discount on their LGMSD membership.

Other owners are putting together activities unique to their businesses, according to McLaughlin. Community Kindness of Eastern Oregon will have a British-themed photo booth and mini soccer camp, and a demonstration area will be set up near Chestnut Street, so that businesses like Copperhead Jiu Jitsu and Beckie’s Dance Studio can show off the skills taught there.

In addition to music at Max Square, there will be a beer garden with live music outside HQ. McLaughlin said HQ is also organizing a garage sale and a music equipment swap.

Just in case this wasn’t crazy enough for everyone, McLaughlin pointed out that the 14th annual La Grande Classic Car Show will be happening along Adams Avenue at the same time. So there will be lots of cars to see and even more live music to listen to.

The La Grande Classic Car Show comes to town the weekend of July 14-16.

Timber Cruisers Car Club kicks off its 14th annual La Grande Classic Car Show — sponsored by M.J. Goss Motors, The Market Place, Les Schwab Tire Center, La Grande Auto Repair, Ziply Fiber and John Howard & Associates — with a cruise-in and registration event at Riverside Park on Friday evening, July 14. Car show participants will be treated to a catered dinner.

On Saturday, July 15, the classic cars will line Adams Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., during the Crazy Days festival happening downtown, and the public is encouraged to view the cars and talk to the owners. Car owners have the option of taking part in a Poker Walk by visiting seven local businesses and drawing cards for the best poker hand.

Throughout the day raffle items will be awarded to winning ticket holders, and trophies will be presented around 2 p.m. Frank Carlson, of Baker City, will provide mainly classic rock ’n’ roll music for the enjoyment of everyone.

Following the award ceremony, car show participants are invited to join a short Poker Cruise around the Grande Ronde Valley, and later that evening, many of the classic cars will be cruising down Adams Avenue during the Cruise for Cash event in hopes of receiving a Cruise Plaque from more than 35 community businesses and individuals.

On Sunday, July 16, the weekend finishes with a coffee and donut get-together in the Family Fresh Foods parking lot. The weekend ends with a final cruise around the valley with a stop for lunch before heading home.

—The Observer