What to do
Rhubarb Barrel House & Street Dance
It’s brews, tunes and (of course) rhubarb. Enjoy headline performances by MayDay, Ten
O’Clock Curfew, the Diamond Experience and Randy Linder’s premiere tribute to Creedence
Clearwater Revival and Chris Anderson. Plus, sample local microbrews, including some special rhubarb brews
available only at the festival. Rhubarb Barrel House open Friday 3-11 pm and Saturday 3-
10 pm. Admission is $15 for 6 taste tickets if purchased 3-5 pm and $20 for 6 taste tickets if
purchased 5-10 pm. Free admission without taste tickets (over 21).
EAT! EAT EAT! Non-Profit Food Court & Food Fare
In the old days, Sumner had more rhubarb than they knew what to do. So, the ladies of Sumner Rotary used to bake them into pies and give them away. Today, Rotary charges for their pies to earn money for local scholarships, but the taste is still the perfect blend of sweet and tart! Not a rhubarb fan? Don’t worry. There’s still more food than you can ever eat from the local Non-Profit Organizations in Sumner. Also you don’t want to miss one of the local favorites Dixie’s Home Cookin’ serving the classic chicken strips or Deanos Grill serving fresh corn in Heritage Park!
Rhubarb RAW!
Are you strong enough to eat rhubarb raw like the locals do? No strawberries, no sugar, no
baking—just a stalk and you. Those who eat the entire stalk get a special Rhubarb RAW!
commemorative prize.
Rhubarb’s Pet Parade
Local dogs and cats will be invited to join Rhubarb from the Tacoma Rainier’s in another inning of fun with a pet parade through downtown Sumner on Saturday morning. Honors for “Fancy” and “Extra-Fancy” will awarded to pets and owners in the most artistic and most “rhubarbish” costumes. Hosted by Metro Animal Services. Bring your cat(s) or dog(s) to downtown Sumner For Rhubarbs Pet Parade!
Rhubarb Rhingo!
Not Ringo, but Rhingo, which is basically bingo at a rhubarb festival! Relive the fun and
excitement of small-town games with prizes, humor and community spirit. Hosted by the
Sumner Lions Club.
Kids’ Ally
Kids of all ages will enjoy arts and activities just for them, including face-painting and designing
their own crate label like the colorful labels that used to designate Sumner’s rhubarb crates.
Hosted by the YMCA of Pierce & Kitsap Counties.
The Great Rhu-Bate
There are a lot of great topics to debate, and the greatest is which is better on rhubarb pie:
crumb crust or lattice crust? Enjoy the rhetoric, the passion and the banter as local lawyer and
Chamber president Rod Stephens debates Brett Vinson, Sumner’s own city attorney.
.VS. 
The Great Rhubarb Race
In the 1950s, the Sumner High School football team would do their conditioning by helping load
the crates of rhubarb onto the train cars. This also helped Sumner farmers beat the Michigan
rhubarb farmers to the East Coast markets. Get ready to cheer as the football team from
Sumner High School goes up against Sumner High Alumni in a race to see who can load the
rhubarb faster.
Rhub-Art
Art has always been at the core of this festival and remains today. Artists from across the
region will feature and sell their work, from Patty Denny with Patricia’s Creations to Barbara
Kethman with Leaf Leather, Inc. Hosted by the Sumner Arts Commission.
