This year's Rainier Days Grand Marshal may be a familiar face to many in Northern Columbia County.

Joe Oliva, an 81-year-old rainier resident who owns Rainier True Value with his wife, Joyce, has been selected to lead the 2017 Rainier Days parade.

The annual event, dubbed Rainier Days In the Park, spans over five acres in the city's park and features live bands, rides, food vendors and carnival rides. Teevin Bros. is this year's main event sponsor.

The action starts Friday, July 8 at 11 a.m. Events continue through 10 p.m. that night and continue Saturday, July 9 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and again on Sunday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on July 8, with check-in at the corner of Fourth and East A Street. Luigi's Pizza is this year's parade sponsor.

Rainier Mayor Jerry Cole said he thought it was awesome to see Oliva serve as this year's grand marsal."

"Joe has been a vital part of downtown Rainier for a very long time," Cole said.

Oliva is a 1953 graduate from Rainier High School who worked at Longview Fibre for 20 years before devoting more time to his hardware business, according to the official Rainier Days website. The longtime Rainier resident built his house on the East side of Rainier in 1962.

More information on upcoming events and performers can be found on the Rainier Days website at rainierdaysinthepark.com.