Hells Canyon Days
The Cambridge Commercial Club begins planning for Hells Canyon Days a full year in advance. It takes considerable time and effort to pull such a special event together. Much of what makes Hells Canyon Days possible is accomplished through the hard work of dedicated volunteers and the generosity of sponsors. Approximately 2,500 tickets are sold each year for Hells Canyon Days, with the majority purchased at the last minute, just before the events begin. The proceeds from this incredible event support three specific categories - High School Scholarships, Community Grants, and the Community/Hardship Fund. Each of these funds provides support to members of our community.
Hells Canyon Days kicked off Friday evening with the Taco Feed hosted by the Cambridge & Midvale Senior Center. The center was buzzing with hungry attendees eager to enjoy corn and soft-shell tacos loaded with all the fixings. As one of the annual fundraisers for the Senior Citizen’s Center, the Taco Feed drew a large crowd in support of a good cause.
Following the meal, the action shifted to the rodeo grounds for the Bulls-n-Broncs event. The stands were full with those who enjoy watching bull riding, saddle bronc, and bareback riding.
Saturday morning began bright and early with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. at the Washington County Exhibit Hall. If you are a breakfast person, this was the place to be. The breakfast had a variety of foods that many commented were delicious. The Cambridge Baptist Church has been sponsoring this breakfast since the very beginning of Hells Canyon Days.
After breakfast, many headed to the Show and Shine car and truck show, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. To really appreciate these amazing cars and trucks, a person must see them in person. As you walk through these beautiful cars and trucks it’s easy to recognize the dedication it takes from owners, organizers, and judges alike to make this show a success. There were approximately 130 cars and 66 trucks in this year’s show. All of the trucks were working trucks, except for one show truck. Consider the effort it takes to wash, wax and detail a family car, then imagine the time required to prepare a working truck for Show and Shine. As an example, I heard about one participant who brought in a logging truck that was on the job Friday, then worked through the night to get it show-ready for Saturday morning. To make these trucks shine the way they do is not a ten-minute job!
This year, there were 13 food vendors and 24 arts and crafts vendors. Walking through town, it was fun to see people checking out the assortment of vendors. Vendor Alley offered a variety of options, such as handmade dog kerchiefs, always a hot item for dog lovers, t-shirts, knives, jewelry, mead and other unique treasures. Further down the street there was a lemonade stand ran by five young businessmen. They sold refreshing lemonade with a smile. Across the street, S & A BBQ Catering, a local vendor who has been participating in Hells Canyon Days for 14 years, was selling crowd favorites, including jalapeno poppers and bacon-wrapped chicken skewers. At the far end of the car show there were additional food vendors, with something for everyone.
Other things to check out around town included the Quilt Show at the high school, a book sale at the Cambridge Public Library, a cornhole tournament, plus an axe throwing venue. Before the concert, many people enjoyed a barbecue sponsored by the Cambridge Rodeo Board. The event was well attended and many attendees commented on how much they enjoyed the food.
The Eli Young Band was the Headliner for this year’s concert. The Eli Young Band is known for such songs as “Crazy Girl,” “Even if it Breaks Your Heart,” “When it Rains,” and others. Two other bands, 1871 Band and Tangled Roots, were also a part of the big night. While the music played, it was fun to watch everyone enjoying the evening. Kids and adults alike seemed to have a great time, whether relaxing in their chairs or dancing. But the concert was more than the wonderful music. At the entrance, trucks were lined up on both sides, adding a striking visual element to the overall setup. Later, those same trucks helped light the way out after the show. The entire event had an atmosphere of pure fun and community spirit.
Hells Canyon Days 2025 has officially wrapped up. Another year of sponsors opening their wallets and generously giving to our community, dedicated volunteers contributing countless hours behind the scenes, and participants bringing their best forward for the Show and Shine and all other events. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this a truly memorable weekend!
