Kids were having a blast Saturday at a water park at the Festival of America quite different than the one festival organizers had planned.
Many features were basically waterless to meet new conditions imposed by state and county health authorities.
All posts by Scott Hunter
National art quilt show drawing hundreds
More than 180 quilts honoring the 100th anniversary year of the National Park Service are drawing visitors from as far away as Brithish Columbia and California.
An hour after opening early Friday afternoon, folks from Summerland, B.C. told us they made the trip just to see the quilts. At that point 95 people had already visited the exhibit of what several there described as amazing and stunning quilted works, which depict aspects of national parks, many using techniques that provide a three-dimensional effect that just won’t translate in photos.
Check out our guide to this weekend’s events for more on the quilts, including times and a map to the exhibit
Tons to do here on weekend of Fourth
A festival, fireworks off the top of the Grand Coulee Dam, a splash park for kids, live entertainment, a huge national art quilt show …
Check it all out in our Festival of America 2016 guide:
Kids and cowboys focus on Father’s Day weekend
This weekend is for kids, cowboys and classic car lovers.
Saturday is the 12th annual Koulee Kids Fest, offering a whole range of activities. The chamber of commerce-organized event features, among other things, two performances by the Wenatchee Youth Circus.
Those performances will be at 2 and 6 p.m ., at the Lake Roosevelt football stadium.
The youth circus is sponsored by the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union as part of its 75th year celebration. Admission is free and is open to the public.
Also this weekend, on Friday night, the Ridge Riders are sponsoring the Fifth Annual Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Ride at the Rodeo Grounds. That event begins at 7 p.m ., and features a $2,500 added purse for bull riders.
The evening also features a wild horse race and mini-bronc riding contest.
The Ridge Riders will have their Pendleton Whiskey and Coors Beer garden, and offer food and treats at its concession booth.
Price for the bull ride is $12; kids 10 and under get in free.
Kids can get started on their special day Saturday by picking up their passports and map at one of the following locations: Coulee Hardware, Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center, or the concession stand at the Lake Roosevelt High School football field.
Things to do include chalk art, getting a look inside a fire engine or the MedStar helicopter, ride a pedal boat at Coulee Playland, do a little face painting, enter a coloring contest and play a round of mini golf at Sunbanks Lake Resort.
Although not officially part of Kids Fest, the Coulee Cruizers are set to offer their annual show and shine of collector cars at Banks Lake Park on Saturday, too.
When your energy begins to wane, you can get a pick-me-up by getting one of Julie Tillman’s turkey sandwiches at the Lake Roosevelt football field, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m ., while supplies last.
Kids, cowboys, and car lovers, have fun this weekend.
Singers a plenty at Grand Coulee Dam
One of a dozen singers performing their own and Woody Guthrie’s songs today at Grand Coulee Dam, Annie Ford sings “Pastures of Plenty.”
Here’s the schedule for today and tonight:
People attending are encouraged to bring their own picnics and blankets to the event.
Speaker Schedule
· 2:00 to 3:30 p.m .: Michael Madjic of University of Oregon: Roll On, Columbia screening and discussion with Greg Vandy
· 3:45 to 4:45 p.m .: Deana McCloud of Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa: “Woody Guthrie, Man of the People” discussion with Greg Vandy
· 5:00 to 6:00 p.m .: Libby Burke of BPA Library: Stephen B. Kahn and the BPA Motion Picture Division: “Get me a Folksinger!” with a screening of “The Columbia: America’s Greatest Power Stream”
· 6:30 to 7:30 p.m .: Bill Murlin and Joe Seamons: “The Lost Guthrie BPA Recordings”
· 7:45 to 9:00 p.m .: Greg Vandy: “26 Songs in 30 Days: Woody Guthrie’s Columbia River Songs and the Planned Promised Land in the Pacific Northwest” book reading and discussion
Performer Schedule
1:30 p.m .: Bill Murlin
2:10 p.m .: Annie Ford
2:50 p.m .: Mike Giacolino
3:30 p.m .: Planes on Paper
4:10 p.m .: Country Dave Harmonson
4:50 p.m .: Smokey Brights
5:30 p.m .: John Pontrellow
6:10 p.m .: Michael Wohl
6:50 p.m .: Aaron Semer
7:30 p.m .: The Foghorns
8:10 p.m .: Jacob Miller & the Bridge City Crooners
8:45 p.m .: Joe Seamons & Ben Hunter