McCleary Historical Society

06/01/2026

Thank you Chris Watts for everything you do to help the museum.

05/30/2026

Join us at 2PM today at Event Center At The McCleary Museum for Sasquatch: Man-Ape or Myth with Naturalist and Author David George Gordan.

05/28/2026

Join us Saturday, May 30th at our Event Center.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1GiCffEDxc/

05/28/2026

MCCLEARY MUSEUM (OUT OF MANY, ONE DISPLAY)
January 1 - December 31
Bear Festival Display
The Bear Festival was started in McCleary in 1959 as a way to draw people to McCleary so that it didn’t become a Ghost Town and has been a part of our community ever since. Its original name was Second Growth Festival, a nod to the reforestation efforts and hope for new city growth, too. A few years in, they added Bear Festival because of the famous Bear Stew served every year. Eventually, it was shortened to just Bear Festival.
The festival brings many visitors to our small community the second weekend of July every year. The festival has changed some of its events over the years, but a baseball tournament, a parade, and a community feed of bear stew have been a part of the event from the beginning. McCleary drew criticism and protesters carrying signs reading Save Our Bears… to which the locals retorted with Save Our Trees. Over the years, the amount of bear meat used has changed, but the tradition is still one of the cheapest meals you can buy costing only the purchase of a bear festival pin, which for many years could be purchased for only $2. The Display includes a case of items from over the years and a wall display behind it about its history. The most important item on display is a complete collection of Bear Festival Buttons—one from every year, including at least two that are very hard to find. Bear Festival has been an important part of the local American Experience since 1959 and we hope it continues into the future for many years to come.
How it represents the community’s American experience:
The Bear Festival represents our community’s American Experience because it not only draws our community together every year, but it draws people from many other communities to visit us. Many great memories are made each year, and like many things in American history, it grows and changes with the times. Freedom to gather, connect with others, and enjoy life is exemplified in this important yearly event.
On display at the McCleary Museum, Saturdays & Sundays, 12–4 p.m., or by appointment.

DETAILS
Start: January 1
End: December 31
Event Category: Art, History, or Cultural Exhibit
Website: https://mcclearymuseum.org
Organization: McCleary Museum and Event Center
Phone: 360-964-0561
View Organization Website

VENUE
McCleary Museum
426 South 3rd Street
McCleary, WA 98557 United States
Phone: 360-964-0561

https://america250wa.org/event/mccleary-museum-out-of-many-one-display/

05/26/2026

05/26/2026

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day!

05/24/2026

🎉 FREE COMMUNITY CARNIVAL! 🎉
Join us on JUNE 13TH from 2-4PM for a FREE family Carnival as we celebrate in coordination with America250 and other nationwide events celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial!
Tour the museum, enjoy refreshments, play traditional carnival games, enter the patriotic costume contest (judging at 2:30PM), enjoy a pie or 12 in the pie eating contest of just take a cake home from the cake walk. We have FREE FUN for everyone!