Old Town Days brings out Union Gap's best | Yakima Herald-Republic Online

SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Atop a Union Gap fire truck, from left, Evan Cruz, 7, Joshua Yamane, 9, Gabrielle Martin, 8, Joseph Martin, 1, and Sara Martin wait for the Old Town Days Parade to begin on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

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Cassidy Morrison had a good day Saturday.

The 7-year-old Yakima girl ate three watermelon wedges to take first place in the children's watermelon-eating contest at Union Gap's Old Town Days.

As if that victory wasn't sweet enough, she also bested her older brother, Brayden Morrison, a 12-year-old with fresh watermelon stains on the front of his shirt. Brayden only put away about one and a half wedges.

"I think she could have eaten more if she had to," said Dennis Van Tassel, an Old Town Days volunteer who oversaw the contest.

Van Tassel, a 63-year-old Union Gap resident who works for Carey Motors in Yakima, should know. By that point he had already seen 13-year-old Hannah Gimlin of Yakima put away five wedges in the next age group up.

Gimlin, whose parents own Union Gap's Speed Motorsport motorcycle shop, thought she was done when she finished her fourth watermelon wedge but Van Tassel put a fifth in front of her and urged her on.

Asked how she felt after defeating a half-dozen other gorgers, Gimlin, dripping watermelon juice, replied "bloated."

It was that kind of scene Saturday at Old Town Days, which kicked off Friday and will continue through today. With classic cars, sno-cones and a parade, Old Town Days could just as easily be called Old Fashioned Days. Though one of the event's main attractions, an "American Idol"-style singing contest, is a concession to modern-day entertainment, the rest of the festival really does have a classic Americana feel.

"History is a very big deal this year, because it's the 125th anniversary (of Union Gap)," said KayLynn Thysell, a dance instructor and Union Gap resident who coordinated the Idol Contest.

Incorporating the Idol Contest, which was added last year when Old Town Days returned after a 16-year hiatus, is a way to "mix in the new with the old" she said. The contest featured 33 singers doing a whole array of songs, from country-tinged ballads to a cover of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer." Finalists from Saturday will return at 2 p.m. today to sing again.

And if that's too modern for you, there's a pie-eating contest at 12:30 p.m. But be forewarned: Do not underestimate the local
7-year-olds; they can really eat.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.