Mason County Forest Festival 2026: New Resident Guide

For New Mason County Residents: The Mason County Forest Festival — 82 years running — is Shelton’s defining community event. The 2026 edition ran May 28–31; if you’ve recently moved to the area, it is the fastest orientation to who Mason County is and where it came from.

Last refreshed: October 24, 2026 (Pacific).

October 2026 update: The 2026 Forest Festival ran May 28–31, 2026 — its 82nd year, themed “Legends of the Timber” — with the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade on Saturday, May 30. An earlier version of this page carried incorrect June 5–7 dates and the wrong edition number; both are corrected here from the festival’s official site and the City of Shelton.

New to Mason County? The Forest Festival Is Required Attendance

If you’ve recently moved to Mason County — whether to Shelton, Belfair, Allyn, Union, or anywhere along Hood Canal — you’ll hear about the Forest Festival before long. It’s the one event that concentrates the full character of this community into a single weekend.

The 82nd annual Mason County Forest Festival ran May 28–31, 2026 in downtown Shelton. Here’s what it is, why it exists, and what to know to get the most out of it as someone still learning the area.

Why This Festival Exists

Mason County’s identity is inseparable from timber. Michael T. Simmons built the first American sawmill on Mill Creek in 1853. By the late 1800s, the Simpson Logging Company had become the economic backbone of the region, shaping not just Shelton’s economy but its physical layout — the railroad routes, the mill sites, the neighborhoods.

The first Mason County Forest Festival was held in 1945, just after World War II, as a way to celebrate and promote the logging industry that employed much of the county. Eighty-two years later, that heritage is still honored — not as nostalgia, but as living identity. When you watch the Paul Bunyan Grand Parade move down Railroad Avenue, you’re watching a community acknowledge where it came from.

What to Expect

The weekend is fuller than it looks from a distance. Key events for newcomers to prioritize:

• Paul Bunyan Grand Parade (Railroad Avenue, Saturday May 30, 11 a.m.): The centerpiece of the festival. Community organizations, bands, equestrian groups, businesses, and floats. This is where you’ll see the full cross-section of Mason County’s civic life in one place.
• Logging Show (Loop Field): Competitive logging events in the festival’s traditional timber sports show — log rolling, axe throwing, and sawing events. Free to watch.
• Fireworks Spectacular: The festival’s signature evening fireworks show. One of Mason County’s most-attended annual events.
• Shelton Car Show-Off (Sunday): A quieter, community-focused way to see a different side of Shelton.

Start early on parade day: The Goldsborough Creek Run on Saturday morning, May 30 — hours before the 11 a.m. Grand Parade — is a great way to meet neighbors. Runners check in at 2nd and Railroad, the courses start out in Shelton Valley, and every route finishes downtown on the parade route.

How to Think About It

For longtime residents, the Forest Festival is an annual reunion. For newcomers, it’s an orientation. The organizations that staff the booths, the businesses that sponsor the floats, the families that show up every year — this is the visible layer of Mason County’s social infrastructure. Showing up is how you start to become part of it.

Most events are free. Bring layers — late-May evenings in Shelton can be cool. Full details at masoncountyforestfestival.com.

For more on Shelton and Mason County’s history, see our coverage of Mason County History: Shelton & Squaxin Island Tribe.

Related: Mason County Forest Festival 2026: Complete Event Guide

Frequently Asked Questions: Mason County Forest Festival for New Residents

Why is the Mason County Forest Festival significant?

It’s Shelton’s oldest and largest annual community event — the 2026 edition was its 82nd year. The festival celebrates Mason County’s timber heritage and serves as the primary community gathering of the year, drawing residents from across the county and beyond.

When and where is the 2026 Forest Festival?

The 2026 festival ran May 28–31 in downtown Shelton, WA. The Paul Bunyan Grand Parade stepped off Saturday, May 30 at 11 a.m. on Railroad Avenue, and the logging show was at Loop Field.

Are most Forest Festival events free?

Yes — the parade, logging show, concert, and fireworks are free to attend. Carnival rides require ticket purchase. The Goldsborough Creek Run on May 30 has a registration fee.

How do I get to Shelton from other Mason County communities?

Shelton is the Mason County seat, accessible from Belfair and Union via SR-3, from the Hood Canal communities via US-101, and from Allyn via SR-3. The festival takes place in the downtown core near Railroad Avenue and Loop Field.

Is there parking at the Forest Festival?

Downtown Shelton fills up on parade and fireworks days — plan to arrive early. Check masoncountyforestfestival.com for each year’s event-specific parking information.