The Friends of The Dredge presents Heritage Days at the Fairgrounds in Sumpter, Oregon
July 25, 2009 11:00 am to 2:30 pm Sumpter Valley Dredge Employees and Families are invited as well as all Sumpter Residents, Past and Present. Everyone is invited to this Potluck Barbeque. Please bring a salad and/or a dessert....Hamburgers, hot dogs, and bottled water will be provided by The Friends of The Dredge. For more information.........

Ready or not, the first Flea Market of the season is just around the bend. Memorial Day is upon us and that means Flea Market time in Sumpter, Oregon! Soon, vendors will be setting up for the first Flea Market of the season May 23rd-25th. To get the most of your time in Sumpter, here are a few tips that might help:

1. Some lodging in Sumpter requires a minimum 3-night stay for Flea Markets and remember, lodging fills up fast, so if you need a place to stay in Sumpter, make your reservations as soon as you can.
2. Weather in Sumpter is unpredictable-even for Memorial Day. Be prepared for every type of weather condition! Cold, Hot, Windy, Dry, Rainy-it can even snow! So be ready!
3. Plan to arrive early-most Vendors are fresh and ready to sell early! Vendors are usually ready to sell on Friday morning, even though the official dates are Sat-Mon. Parking fills up fast, so if you need to park, get here early to ensure a good spot.Please be aware of private property when parking.
   
4. Bring plenty of cash-no banks in Sumpter! The ATMS up here tend to get hit pretty hard and run out of money fast due to high demand.
   
5. Bring small bills and change-the vendors will appreciate it.
   
6. Keep your dogs on a leash-it's an Ordinance and will help keep you and your dog safer.
   
7. Although ATVS are allowed our side streets (the speed limit is 15 mph) , they aren't allowed on Mill Street, which is a State Highway and State Laws do apply. 
8. The Flea Market is spread throughout Sumpter so to see it all, you will do a lot of walking between downtown and the Fairgrounds.
9. Ride the bus! Thanks to Community Connections of Baker City, there is a bus that makes frequent stops throughout Sumpter for free. If they aren't full, they will stop for you just about anywhere, but they do have designated stops too.
   

Here's an idea: if you are planning to ride the Sumpter Valley Railroad Steam Train,  just park down at the McEwen Train Depot, ride the first train to Sumpter, then ride the train back at the end of the day! See the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge, visit our Museums, ride the train, and enjoy the Flea Market all at the same time and you won't have to worry about parking in Sumpter! Tickets are good all day. Just be sure to know the schedule of the train so you don't miss the last one! train schedule
We welcome Vendors and Visitors alike and we can't stress enough-there are more things to see in Sumpter than just the Flea Market! and hope these tips will help you have a great visit in Sumpter Oregon! If you need more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 541-894-2249 or send them an email: mjclarke97877@msn.com See  you in Sumpter!

The snow is gone, and we can finally venture outdoors without all that cold weather gear. Of course, our first outing in the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge State Park was even nicer since we just lived through winter. Signs of  life were everywhere as we made our way through the park on the well-groomed trails. The trails are open and the snow is gone but the green of spring has not quite shown up yet. The trails are only under a mile each, but they offer a nice walk and it will be hard for the visitor to remember they are within city limits and walking distance of  their lodging as they traverse these trails. Whether you are an avid bird watcher, nature lover, or just want to stretch your legs, you will enjoy the Sumpter Valley Dredge Trails! The trails surround the Dredge and wind through actual Dredge Tailings left behind by the Dredge. You can see how nature bounced has bounced back from extensive Gold Mining since the Dredge ceased operations in the Sumpter Valley over approx. 60 years ago. Right now, you can use the trails to walk around the Dredge and enjoy this historical landmark from the outside.....and then you can tour the Dredge on the inside when the season opens officially on May 1st, but the Park is open year round. In the winter, you can exchange your hiking boots for snowshoes and enjoy the same trails when nature blankets the area in snow....during the season, you can ride your ATV to the dredge and during the winter, you can ride to the Dredge on your snowmobile. Of course, just walking on the trails is nice too!