Kla Ha Ya Days Parade Saturday July 18th

In the 1930s the Coast Guard cutters and Everett Yacht Club boats went up the Snohomish River for Kla Ha Days. The summertime festival focused on the River; it was pretty important according to Bob Heirman, the 2015 Grand Marshal of the parade on Saturday, July 18th at 10:30am.

Some festival goers back then took yachts to get to Kla Ha Ya Days. Today, visitors drive to the historic community north of Seattle on Highway 9. The high diving championships and cow milking have been replaced with a frog jumping contest, beer gardens and sky diving demonstrations after the parade Heirman leads.
Community and Kla Ha Ya Days Festival committee members nominate someone whose services have contributed to Snohomish to be the annual Grand Marshal. “The list of Bob’s community service to his beloved Snohomish is endless,” says Tribune publisher Becky Reed.

Heirman has been in involved with the outdoors his whole life and is a strong advocate for the environment. He lives on land that’s been in his family for over 100 years on the NW corner of Blackman Lake where the annual Salmon Barbeque takes place.

A self-proclaimed “big time tree hugger,” Bob has been successful in helping to create two county parks –the county named one after him in honor of his work: the Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve Park at Thomas’ Eddy and Lord Hill Regional Park. “We fought a monumental battle to save Lord Hill,” Bob says of the Sportsmen’s Club he’s been a member of for over 50 years. Heirman’s weapon of choice – the almighty pen. Between letters and authoring three books, Heirman’s works bring the majesty of nature to the reader or notice to government entities. John Hahn, a columnist for the former Seattle Post Intelligencer who reviewed Bob’s books, proclaimed Bob a “thorough Thoreau.”

Heirman often speaks to teacher groups and high school students. In his melodious voice he tells them, “It’s wrong for my generation to take all the natural resources and leave you nothing.” As a naturalist, Bob means what he says.

Joining Bob on the parade will be two of his three daughters and maybe his youngest grandson of 14 grandchildren. His wife Clara of 42 years may be with some of the 13 great grand kids. When Bob was asked what words of wisdom did he have, he said, “We’ve got to be better stewards of the land.”