All posts by Jacob Wagner

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Kids Fest, Fireworks, Bull Riding & Astronomy this weekend in the Coulee

Peddle boats at Coulee Playland are a blast on Koulee Kids Day  

Great events will be happening in the Grand Coulee Dam area this weekend: Koulee Kids Fest, a fireworks show, bull riding, and astronomy.

The annual Koulee Kids Fest runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on this Saturday, June 17. The free event offers kids the opportunity to play mini golf, ride pedal boats, and much much more. Click HERE for more info.

 

Fireworks will be launched from North Dam in Grand Coulee on Saturday night, June 17, from around 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Coulee Playland is offering free boat launches for those wanting to watch from the waters of Banks Lake. North Dam Park and Banks Lake Park, and all surrounding areas are good places to see the event. Click HERE for more info.

 

The Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding event will take place on Friday, June 16 at the Ridge Rider Rodeo Grounds in Grand Coulee starting at 7 p.m. The event will also include a wild horse race. Click HERE for more info.

The National Park Service will host a free public astronomy presentation at Crescent Bay on Friday, June 16, from 9-11:30 P.M.

Entertainment, Events, Soon, To Dos

Big tent circus coming to Grand Coulee on June 8

 

The circus is coming to town, and no, not your in-laws. An actual circus! The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, to be exact. Complete with lions, tigers, a huge tent, and a variety of other entertainment.

The circus will take place at North Dam Park on Thursday, June 8, with two 90-minute shows starting at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The circus has been featured on National Geographic’s Explorer television series, Entertainment Tonight, the A&E special “Under the Big Top,” and in “On the Road with Circus Kids,” a Nickelodeon special.

A press release from Culpepper & Merriweather said that additional acts will include trapeze, prancing ponies, unicycles, a female contortionist, and tightrope walkers. Original music, a giant tent, elaborate costumes, and original music complete the experience.

Between 9:30 and 10 a.m. the curious are welcome to watch the raising of the big tent and receive a free tour, offering the opportunity to learn all about the circus, including topics such as the hygiene, grooming, and veterinary care of all the animals.

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce was approached in December by Culpepper & Merriweather about hosting the circus while they were in the surrounding area. The chamber said yes, agreeing to provide running water, a dumpster, and to dispose of the animal waste. A check for $290 from the Chamber may be refunded if there are enough ticket sales to cover all the expenses.

The event marks the first time a full-fledged circus has been in the area since the last millennium.

Tickets are available for purchase at Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, H&H Grocery, Coulee Hardware, The Star newspaper, Loepp’s Furniture, the Nespelem Trading Post, the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, Coulee Medical Center, Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors and children ages 2-12. Children under two get in free. On show day, tickets will be $13 for adults and $8 for seniors and children.

Boating, swimming and fishing

Lake Roosevelt water level rising with spring runoff

Overlooking Crescent Bay
Lake Roosevelt is low as shown here overlooking Crescent Bay, but some boat launches are open.

The spring runoff from melting snow in Canada is now coming down the Columbia River, and Lake Roosevelt is beginning to refill.

Following the long 2016-17 winter, Lake Roosevelt has been kept at a low water level in anticipation of the large mountain runoff to come.

Currently, with the water level at an elevation of about 1,243 feet above sea level, the target for May 31 is for the lake to be no higher than 1,262, according to the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake is completely full at 1,290 feet.

Flood control levels are determined by the Corps of Engineers, and are the major factor in water levels this time of year while the lake is operated as a large catch-basin to hold back snowmelt water that could otherwise cause flooding downstream.

The Colville Tribes had asked the Corps of Engineers to keep the water level above 1,232, the lowest operational level for the Gifford-Inchelium Ferry.

Although many boat launches on Lake Roosevelt are inoperable due to the low water levels, they are open at Spring Canyon, Keller Ferry, Seven Bays, Hunters Camp, and Kettle Falls. As the water rises, by the end of May, Crescent Bay, Hansen Harbor, Lincoln Mill, Fort Spokane, Gifford, Daisy, Bradbury Beach, and more boat launches should all be operational.

The Porcupine Bay launch is currently inaccessible because of a landslide earlier this year.

More information on current lake levels, and the minimum operable lake levels for many boat launches can be found at https://gcdvisitor.com/boat-launch-accessibility-on-lake-roosevelt/ 

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Lake Roosevelt water level to rise with spring runoff

 

 The spring runoff has begun and Lake Roosevelt is beginning to refill.

 Following the long 2016-17 winter, Lake Roosevelt has been kept at a low water level in anticipation of the large mountain runoff to come.

 Currently, with the water level at an elevation of about 1,235 feet above sea level, the target for May 31 is for the lake to be no higher than 1,262, according to the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. The lake is completely full at 1,290 feet.

 Flood control levels are determined by the Corps of Engineers, and are the major factor in water levels this time of year while the lake is operated as a large catch-basin to hold back snowmelt water that could otherwise cause flooding downstream.

 The Colville Tribes had asked to keep the water level above 1,232 which is the lowest operational level for the Gifford Ferry near Inchelium.

 Although many boat launches on Lake Roosevelt are inoperable due to the low water levels, they are still open at Spring Canyon, Keller Ferry, Seven Bays, Hunters Camp, and Kettle Falls. As the water rises, by the end of May, Crescent Bay, Hansen Harbor, Lincoln Mill, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay, Gifford, Daisy, Bradbury Beach, and more boat launches should all be operational.  

 More information on current lake levels, and the minimum operable lake levels for many boat launches can be found at https://gcdvisitor.com/boat-launch-accessibility-on-lake-roosevelt/ 

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Colorama Festival coming May 12-14

A new 5K Colorama Color Run will be held at North Dam Park this year, adding literal “color” for Colorama to participants who want to revel in the spirit of the festival.

The run begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at North Dam Park. For those who pre-register at grandcouleedam.org/colorrun or at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, the cost is $22 and includes a T-shirt. Registration on the day of the run will cost $25, and a T-shirt is not guaranteed.

Those on the run will receive a T-shirt and can get an optional spray of color at six locations along the way.

The route will cross North Dam and wind its way along trails for the 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). The racers will not run along the highway.

The Colorama carnival will feature a Ferris wheel, among a string of other rides, according to Rainier Amusements spokesperson Traci Newton.

Newton said Monday that, in addition to the Ferris wheel, there will be rides such as the YoYo, Spider, Helicopter, Vortex and Ali Baba. This will be Rainier Amusements’ first Colorama visit.

Newton said Rainier Amusements takes pride in providing family entertainment and that rides for all ages are a feature of the firm.

The popular pre-sale for carnival tickets began this week, with a one-day ticket selling for $20. The cost of a daily ticket at the site will be $28.

Pre-event tickets are available at the chamber of commerce office, the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, Coulee Hardware, Loepp Furniture, H&H Grocery, Trading Post near Nespelem, and The Star newspaper.

Also, Colorama button sales started last week, with buttons available at a number of local businesses. The $3 buttons are numbered for prizes in a drawing scheduled for Saturday, May 13.

Another popular feature of Colorama this year will be helicopter rides.

For the fifth year, Inland Helicopter will be on hand to take Colorama visitors on a helicopter ride over the area. Flights cost $30 per person if there are at least three people along, or $40 each if there are fewer than three.

Flights will be available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Flights take off from the ball field at North Dam Park.

Read more about the event at http://www.grandcouleedam.org/colorama.html