Concrete Chamber of Commerce President Valerie Stafford first dreamed up the idea for the “Best Place to Kiss in Concrete” contest in 2008. But the Valentine’s Day event fell by the wayside when the chamber decided to throw its weight behind the Skagit County town’s annual Mardi Gras celebration, which will return later this month after a COVID-related hiatus in 2021.
“This year, we decided to do both,” Stafford said this week. “We’ll be celebrating Mardi Gras on February 26, with a parade on Main Street. After the kind of winter we’ve had, we’re looking forward to dancing in the streets with our friends and neighbors.”
But 2022 royalty Valerie and Jarrod Lee, before leading the procession that starts at the Concrete Post Office, may consider taking part in the photo-focused kissing contest. Open to residents and visitors 18 and older, the rules are simple: To begin, choose the best, most romantic or most exciting place to smooch — whether it’s in front of an iconic structure, at a spot that captures the scenery of the area or the independent spirit of the citizens, or even at a business or store that gets your heart racing — then submit a photo of yourself and another consenting adult feeling the love. Be sure to include a description of the locale and why you chose it, and don’t forget to add the names of the involved parties.
Stafford said some of the places she thinks people will take their shots include the historic cement silos in Concrete on Highway 20, Concrete High School or the supposedly haunted Thompson Bridge. The rules call for the photos to be taken in or around Concrete, and Stafford said as long as the submissions represent zip code 98237 and arrive by midnight on Feb. 11, they’ll be in the running. The best entries will be posted on the Concrete Chamber of Commerce’s website and Facebook page, and the lucky winner will receive a gift certificate to Dawn’s Floral & Gifts — just in time for a bouquet to their valentine.
Similar to the Mardi Gras event, it’s free to take part in the “Best Place to Kiss in Concrete” contest. But those who want to join the Feb. 26 parade should sign up in advance on the chamber website. Each entrant is encouraged to include the official Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, but it’s not a requirement to take part in the festivities, which will continue after the parade with live music, food and the passing out of prizes. The festivities will take place regardless of the weather conditions, so keep that in mind when you’re contemplating costumes or lining Main Street to show your support.
Stafford is excited for both events to return and is eager to see what submissions come through for the kissing contest in the coming days.
“We want to encourage people to explore our town for fun places to give some ‘lip service,’” she said. “I think we can all use a harmless distraction right now, right?”
Rules and regulations for the “Best Place to Kiss in Concrete” contest and the Mardi Gras Celebration can be found at www.concrete-wa.com.
