Rotary Park in Burlington came alive with roaring engines, clouds of dust, and smiling faces as lawn mower racing returned for another thrilling year.
Thirteen racers from across Western Washington gathered on Saturday, June 7, for the third annual Burlington Lawn Mower Races. The one-day event featured trophies, local food trucks, and a sense of community, drawing both spectators and racers together for a day of fun.
“It leans a little toward the redneck side, but it’s full of great people,” said 43-year-old Burlington resident Lorne Mortensen. “It’s just a bunch of people getting together to play with machines they built themselves.”
Lawn mower racing has a long history in Skagit County, starting in the late 1970s as part of the Northwest Lawn Mower Racing Association. It was once a popular event, especially during the Berry Dairy Days festival. However, by the 1990s, the races faded away after being moved from their original home at the Mount Vernon fairgrounds.
Burlington’s Recreation Coordinator, Christi Kinney, said bringing back the races was about more than just nostalgia. “This was huge from the 1970s through the ’90s, but it faded over time,” Kinney said. “We wanted to revive it because it was always a big part of the Berry Dairy Days, and people still talk about it.”
Even though lawn mower racing has declined across the country, Burlington is working to bring it back to life locally.
“We’re always listening to feedback from racers,” Kinney said. “We think the event can grow on its own, and we want to give it more attention. That includes improving parking, spreading the word through better marketing, and inviting more racers—both local and from other areas—to join us.”
With each passing year, Burlington hopes to make the races bigger and better, turning a quirky pastime into a full-speed tradition once again.
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