Will we see you at this Saturday’s annual community parade?

||| FROM LANCE EVANS for ORCAS ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |||

The Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce invites you to join in our annual Community Parade in Eastsound on Saturday, July 2 at 12 noon.

Our theme this year is Honoring Island Families. The past few years have been a time for island resilience, for both families and businesses. We honor all island families … new residents and those who have left historic imprints on Orcas Island.

The Grand Marshals for this year’s parade are the Linnes family, best known as the owners of Island Market. Jacob Linnes summed up his family’s history this way:

“The Orcas Island community is built on the foundation long time island families and the small businesses that have weathered the test of time.  Our family dates to the late 1800’s when the Templin family arrived on Orcas to start a general store on Madrona Point.  Five generations later we are still here because of our community making shopping local a priority.  Our family has changed over the years like our stores but our commitment to the betterment of our island has remained constant for the last 125 years.  We are grateful to be your family of grocers.”

Ken and Karen Speck return to announce the parade, and we are pleased to have a smaller contingent of the Orcas Island Community Band joining the activities. The Band has been on hiatus since Covid began but has worked hard to prepare music for this year’s Celebration.

The Chamber of Commerce has extended the deadline to fill out the forms to enter the parade. You have until Monday, June 27 to submit your form to the
Chamber. The forms are found here: https://bit.ly/2022paradeforms or on the Chamber’s website.