From wiener dogs to buffed bodies, Rathdrum Days will have it all

River Magner and Nate Anderson spray water on the crowd from their family float, "Graybeard Pirates," at the Saint Stanislaus Saints Parade to celebrate Rathdrum Days.

Kids fly in orbit around the "YOYO" on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Rathdrum Days.

by Brian Walker
| July 14, 2016 9:00 PM

Kids fly in orbit around the "YOYO" on Saturday, July 20, 2013, at Rathdrum Days.

RATHDRUM — Rathdrum Days will get a little stronger this year.

"We have added a great new event called North Idaho's Strongest, a strongman/woman competition on Sunday," said Shanie Rountree of the Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce.

The contest, which will feature a tire flip, sled pull, keg toss and vehicle pull, will be on Sunday at Lakeland High from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rathdrum Days runs from Friday night at 5 to Sunday at 4:15 p.m.

Another new component this year will be a patriotic opening ceremony featuring American Legion posts 154 and 143 at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday on Main Street before the parade at 10:30 a.m. The theme of Rathdrum Days is "Honoring our Veterans."

For the event's grand finale, skydivers from Skydive West Plains will land at Rotary Field at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Rathdrum McDonald's recently completed a remodel and, rather than hold a typical grand opening, owner-operators Tim and Terri Skubitz decided to hold a fundraiser on Saturday for The Thin Blue Line water feature planned for McEuen Park in Coeur d'Alene in honor of Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore, who was shot and killed in the line of duty last year.

Twenty-seven percent of the total sales from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Moore's call number was K27 — will be donated to the the water feature fund. Area dignitaries will attend.

Friday's highlights include a classic car cruise, music and kids games on Main Street from 6 to 10 p.m.

A breakfast fundraiser to benefit the Lakeland school resource officer position will be hosted by the Order of the Eastern Star No. 33 at the Masonic Lodge on Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Saturday's other events include wiener dog races at Lakeland Junior High at noon, a classic car show at that school from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a vendor/food fair from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lakeland High and entertainment from noon to 7 p.m. at the high school.

Sunday's agenda at Lakeland High also includes the vendor/food fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., magic shows at noon and 3 p.m. and a watermelon-eating contest at 1 p.m.

For more information, call the Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce at 687-2866.