By Matthew Hewlett on July 12, 2025
We’re in the final stretch — and you can feel the energy building across town. Bohemia Mining Days 2025 is just days away, and let’s just say: the hustle is real. We’re running full speed, tying up last-minute details, grabbing hardware, picking up banners, paying bills, and solving those curveball problems that always pop up in the final hour. But guess what? It’s working. It’s all coming together.
And honestly? It’s going to be incredible.
This year, we’ve got an amazing lineup of contests for all ages — big fun, small prizes, and a whole lot of community spirit. The Kid Zone is shaping up to be better than ever, packed with activities that’ll make any young pioneer smile.
But the real show-stealer this year? The facade walls. Kyle Kishen Construction has gone above and beyond, crafting stunning, old-timey structures that make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a frontier boomtown. We’ve got:
Our 2025 theme is “Striking Gold: A Legacy Reignited”, and we’re leaning hard into the heritage that made Cottage Grove shine in the first place. You’ll notice it everywhere — from vendor booths decorated in frontier style to demonstrations of old-time crafts and homesteading skills. We’ve asked vendors to go all in, and they’ve delivered.
And of course, we’ve got some fantastic music lined up. Don’t miss our Coffee & Jam event on Saturday morning: grab a hot cup from Bittle Brew Coffee and enjoy smooth tunes from the Silk Creek Singers before the big parade.
Speaking of which — yes, the Grand Miners Parade is absolutely happening, and it’s going to be packed with floats, costumes, and community pride.
We’ve heard the question a lot: “Will there be a carnival this year?” Unfortunately, the answer is still no. Since COVID, many carnival companies have shut down or shifted away from smaller towns. On top of that, we simply don’t have a good spot to put it anymore — especially now with the splash pad taking over the old carnival site. We’ve explored other options (including behind the post office), but it just hasn’t worked out.
That said, we’re not giving up on the idea. We’ll keep working toward bringing the carnival back one day. It’s a puzzle we’re hoping to solve.
One conversation we’re starting to have (after the dust settles) is possibly moving the festival to Bohemia Park in future years. That would open up new possibilities — but it would also bring major logistical changes, and we’ll need serious community input to make it happen. More on that later.
Thanks for reading this month’s update — and thank you to everyone who’s helping us bring this event to life. The town is buzzing, the park is transforming, and the spirit of Bohemia is burning bright.
We’ll see you soon at the festival.
And don’t forget to get your photo taken behind bars in the Bohemia City Jail ?
#BohemiaMiningDays #CottageGroveOR #SpiritOfBohemia #HeritageFestival #StrikingGold #LegacyReignited
By Matthew Hewlett on June 10, 2025
It’s been a busy, intense, and exciting two months, and I wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what we’ve been building—and rebuilding—from the ground up.
Last year, we pulled off the festival in just six weeks. This year, we’ve had more time—but in many ways, it’s still felt like starting from scratch. We've been refining nearly every process: from how vendors are placed to how we communicate with sponsors, track commitments, and follow through on our promises.
Our vendor team has been meeting regularly to figure out booth placement and layout, working to create a flow that makes sense for visitors and gives each vendor a chance to shine. We're setting firmer procedures in place this time around—no more flying by the seat of our pants.
One of the biggest pushes has been donor outreach. We’ve been reaching out to as many sponsors, businesses, and community members as possible to raise the funding needed not only to host this year’s event but to sustain Spirit of Bohemia long-term.
It’s not just about asking for support—it’s about building trust. That means making sure vendors feel valued, sponsors receive the perks they were promised, and that we remain transparent about our goals and needs.
But we’re not just planning a festival. We’re working on something much bigger: a long-term cultural movement rooted in heritage, storytelling, and survival.
In the past two months, we’ve laid the groundwork for several major initiatives:
We’ve also been diving deep into research for our new video series, This Is Where Legends Are Made. These stories aren’t just folklore—they’re the heart of our local identity. From miners and loggers to community builders, we’re working hard to bring their legacies to life through creative storytelling.
I want to speak from the heart for a moment: if we drop the ball on anything this year, please don’t hesitate to let me know. We’re growing, we’re learning, and we’re doing our absolute best to get this right—but a lot of this is new territory. Apart from organizing last year’s festival, I’m learning as I go. So if something doesn’t go the way it should, give us the chance to make it right.
This is a community festival, and we need the community behind it.
Let’s keep building something real. Let’s keep the spirit alive.
With deep gratitude,
Matthew Hewlett
Executive Director
Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days
By Matthew Hewlett on April 2, 2025
Well folks, it's been a whirlwind few weeks behind the scenes at Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days — and things are starting to take shape!
We’ve officially crossed the 50 vendor mark, which is incredibly exciting. It’s great to see so many local makers, artists, and food folks ready to bring their goods and talents to the festival this summer. That said, the parade is looking a little thin so far — just a few entries in as of now. If you’ve ever thought about joining the Grand Miners Parade (or the Kiddie version!), now’s the time to sign up and bring some flair to Main Street.
We also had our first leadership team meeting recently, and it was a fantastic kickoff. Many of our team leads were in attendance, sharing updates and collaborating on how to make this year’s festival one to remember. Some fun developments came out of that conversation:
The Miners Dinner is officially on! Volunteers are secured, and the menu is looking delicious — think steak, baked beans, cornbread, and a sweet treat for dessert.
Parking plans are being reworked due to some tree changes in the park — Dylan, our parking coordinator, is creating new standard procedures to help things run smoothly.
The Kids' Heritage Fair is set for May 23rd, held in partnership with Family Relief Nursery. It'll be located in the grassy lot behind Safeway, with vendors, activities, and (as always) a need for volunteers.
The Bohemia City play is shaping up to be a hit. Written by Brett French and Rob Weaver, it’s titled "A Haunting We Will Go: The Stolen Nugget", and features ghostly hijinks, historical characters, and a comedic mystery vibe. Think Buster Keaton meets Scooby-Doo!
Our art show is getting a refresh, with help from the Cottage Grove Art Collective. There’s talk of a pop-up gallery, live art demos, and possibly some historical artwork from past festivals.
The Witches of Cottage Grove have plans to dance in the gazebo post-parade, and yes — it’s going to be awesome.
One especially cool update? We’re getting new facade walls for Bohemia City! The originals are no longer available, but a new set is being built right now, with the help of local folks and donated materials. It’s all coming together.
Oh, and don’t be surprised if you see flyers popping up around town (or even at local rest stops). We’re spreading the word — and we’d love your help sharing the excitement.
If you’re able to support us financially, we’re still working hard to reach our fundraising goal — currently sitting just under 50%. Every donation makes a difference. You can pitch in at spiritofbmd.com/donate.
Thanks for being part of the community that keeps this festival alive. More updates are coming soon — until then, keep your boots muddy and your spirits high!
By Matthew Hewlett on March 10, 2025
Wow. What a year it has been since Bohemia Mining Days 2024!
It’s hard to even begin to put into words everything that has happened since last summer. So much has changed, grown, and come back to life as we’ve worked tirelessly to bring this festival into a new era. If you’ve ever been part of event planning—or any kind of major community effort—you know it’s no small feat.
But let me tell you, the work we’ve been doing? It’s big.
One of the biggest milestones we hit last year was officially incorporating and securing our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This was a huge step forward, ensuring that Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days has a solid foundation for the future. It gives us the ability to apply for grants, build stronger partnerships, and offer sponsors, donors, and supporters the confidence that their contributions are truly making a difference.
On top of that, we acquired all the assets from the previous organization that ran Bohemia Mining Days for decades. It was a crucial move to keep the festival’s legacy alive while also giving us a fresh start under a new structure.
And while paperwork and legal filings aren’t exactly the most thrilling part of the process, they were necessary steps in making sure we could move forward in a sustainable way.
We didn’t just inherit the festival’s assets—we’ve also been rebuilding relationships that go back decades.
One of the things I’ve loved most about this journey is connecting with the people who have been part of Bohemia Mining Days for years, whether as volunteers, vendors, sponsors, or passionate community members. Some folks have stepped forward with incredible stories and wisdom from past festivals, while others have jumped in, eager to help build something new.
We’ve had meetings, phone calls, coffee chats—you name it—to reignite old partnerships and create new ones. And honestly? The support and enthusiasm we’ve received have been nothing short of inspiring.
Pulling off an event like this isn’t just about picking a weekend and throwing up some tents. There’s been an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes work to get things back on track.
And I’ll be honest—it’s overwhelming at times. As the new Executive Director, I have no idea how the folks before me managed to do all of this on a volunteer basis. It’s truly mind-blowing. Since November, I’ve been working 60-hour weeks, pouring everything I’ve got into making sure this festival happens in 2025.
We’re not just bringing back Bohemia Mining Days—we’re building something even bigger.
This festival has always been about history, community, and tradition, but we’re also thinking beyond the event itself. Here are just a few of the new things we’ve been working on:
As exciting as all of this is, we can’t do it alone. Bohemia Mining Days belongs to this community, and it’s going to take all of us to make it happen.
Here are a few ways you can get involved:
July 17-19, 2025
That’s when all of this hard work will come to life. We cannot wait to bring this festival back bigger, better, and stronger than ever.
If you want to be part of the journey—whether as a volunteer, a donor, or just a fan cheering us on—reach out! Email me at spiritofbmd@gmail.com.
Thank you for being part of this incredible ride. We’re just getting started!
See you in July!