Chimacum solutes solidarity with Interdependence Day

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For more than a decade, Chimacum has continued to hold up community-building above bootstrap lifting with its Interdependence Day.

This year’s 11th annual celebration will take place Sunday, July 17.

An agricultural community like Chimacum knows the necessity of working together with farmers, land, cooks, merchants, and consumers all laced together lovingly like patchwork pieces in a grandmother’s quilt.

The first Interdependence Day was launched by the Chimacum Corner Farmstand and friends in 2011. It was a sweet event with some music and free ice cream cones.

It grew from there, moving across the road to Finnriver in 2016 with a square dance, talent show, and live music.

This year’s event begins with a belly full of the land’s bounty with Chimacum-grown pancakes at the Chimacum Grange beginning at 9 a.m., followed shortly after at 10 a.m. by the Chimacum Farmer’s Market.

People can then root down with a community stretch followed by a history walking tour through the farmhouse and Chimacum corner lead by local historian Nancy McDaniel.

Information on the Chemakum People will then be presented to connect with Chemakum families through their portrait project and longhouse efforts.

In the afternoon, the Chimacum Center will have an information table and sign-ups for a local community service effort to allow people opportunities to strengthen their interdependence muscles.

At 3 p.m., things will loop back toward the whimsical with a hula hoop making workshop. In this workshop, participants will learn the steps and walk away with their own custom hula hoop. There’ll also be instruction in hip hooping skills from Alex Eisenberg, local Hooper and Hoop Teacher.

Those new hoops can then be put to use in the Hoop Flash Mob. Hula hoops from home are also welcome, plus more will be provided to guarantee as much hooping as possible.

“The more hooping humans we have, the more we will all laugh and smile!” said event-organizer and co-founder/owner of Finnriver, Crystie Kisler.

“My hope is that it looks like we’re all part of a one multi-cellular organism,” Kisler said, hoping to grab a shot of the hoopla from above with aerial drone photography.

Live music follows from there with a performance of the Chimacum Choir led by Peter Freeman, followed by Cajun Dance with Les Couers Criminels.

Adults will be asked to show financial interdependence with the band through a $5 cover. Kids, however, are admitted free.