Napavine, just south of Chehalis, is the third most-populated incorporated city in Lewis County, located right off of Interstate 5 via exits 71 and 72. City of Napavine
The don’t-miss-event in town is the Napavine Funtime Festival, 2010 scheduled for July 16 to 18. Call (360) 262-3887 for more information.
Friday night is the coronation of Princess Napawinah at the Napavine Trininty Rebekah Hall located at the corner of West Washington Street and Birch Ave SW/Highway 603 towards Winlock.
The Funtime Parade is on Saturday July 17th at 11:00 am. For further information please contact Jerry & Eileen Owens at 360-262-3887. The parade route is from the Napavine Elementary School on E Park Street to Napavine Community Park at 207 W Washington Street.
The community boasts the county’s largest concert venue, the Napavine Amphitheater, with a summer schedule packed with hit shows. Former headliners have included Quiet Riot, the Presidents of the United States of America, Hells Belles, Dierks Bentley and Randy Travis.
The annual Napavine Funtime Festival is just that — fun for all ages. This year the festival will be held July 18-20. Photo by Brian Mittge.
The town also boasts the youngest mayor in Washington, Nick Bozarth, who was elected in November and took office Jan. 1 in the town where he grew up.
The town got its start with a post office in 1873, thanks to the fresh railroad track. The town picked up with a Northern Pacific mill constructed to make railroad ties, and within six years boasted seven mills, two factories and a host of stores.
Between 1900 and 1925 the town’s population blossomed to about 1,500, but dropped off when the Great Depression struck and cut down the number of mills. The current population is still around 1,500, but recent development in the area could lead to further growth.
It was fun time once again in Napavine on Saturday, July 18, 2009. Photos by Jesse Smith
The town is also locally known as the home of Frosty’s Saloon and Bar, a former candy store and barber shop that’s haunted, some say, by either a logger or a woman in a blue.