Covington Days Festival organizers could use some more support — specifically from businesses willing to sponsor the event.

Coordinated by the Covington Lions Club since 2006, the Seafair-sanctioned festival will be at Cedar Heights Middle School for the second year, but there will be some differences from 2011 to this year according to Judy Swanberg, who is chair of the festival for the club.

Prior to a year ago the festival had been on what is now the site of the Covington MultiCare Emergency Department which had been a vacant lot.

“We worked with the best option we had,” Swanberg said. “It worked last year. There really isn’t any place in Covington that’s big enough to hold it.”

Swanberg hopes one key difference this year will be better weather for the event which is schedule from July 20-22 — better weather.

“Last year it didn’t help that it rained the entire time,” she said.

This year there will not be a carnival element due to booking conflicts with the company that brings the rides and midway to Covington Days. Swanberg said the festival committee is looking for an alternative such as laser tag, bounce houses among other possibilities for smaller children as well as activities that would appeal to teens.

And the parade will go on starting again at Jenkins Creek Elementary, traveling down Southeast 272nd Street, then ending at Cedar Heights the Saturday morning of the festival.

There will be plenty of vendor booths as well as live entertainment, with a mix of past performers and new ones, Swanberg said.

Thus far the festival has two major sponsors, Cascade Water and Valley Medical Center, but Swanberg said they could use a few more.

“We’re still accepting applications for everything,” Swanberg said. “We need volunteers. If we could get every business in Covington then we wouldn’t have to worry… we would be able to do a really good job of it.”

Swanberg said she has had to battle the misconception that the city of Covington helps foot the bill, which can run as high as $40,000, but the city hasn’t done that in several years. Covington staff members do help with planning, however, but the city just doesn’t have the money to help cover costs.

The festival committee has also worked with the Covington Chamber of Commerce as well as individuals in the community, Swanberg said, and she plans to get out in search of support by going to door-to-door soon.

With additional sponsors more elements could be added to the event beyond what is currently offered such as a car show as well as climbing walls and athletic demonstrations for children.

Still, as things come together, Swanberg believes this annual festival is important for those who live in and near Covington.

“I would like to stress that it is an event for the community,” she said. “It’s to bring the community together. We took it over because … we didn’t want to see it end.”

For more information log on to www.covingtonfestival.com or call 425-432-9140.