Category Archives: Events

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Lasers, bulls, wild horses and the best Memorial Day service in the state

There’s so much happening in the Grand Coulee Dam Area this Memorial Day weekend, it’s hard to know where to start.

Isle of Flags

The Isle of Flags honors veterans on Memorial Day.
The Isle of Flags honors veterans on Memorial Day.

But rightfully, that has to be an annual service called the Isle of Flags. It’s a tribute to local veterans who’ve passed on, but anybody from anywhere would find this simple, 40-minute ceremony overlooking Lake Roosevelt to be inspiring. More than 500 U.S. flags will fly in tribute at Spring Canyon Cemetery, along with those about to be dedicated.

The Isle of Flags ceremony starts at 11 a.m. Monday.

Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding and Wild Horse Race

Saturday, May 24 at 4 p.m. at the site of the best rodeo in the state, cheers will echo off the the coulee wall as cowboys take on the toughest 8 seconds in all of sports, riding bulls who know how to throw them like rag dolls. This event will also feature a wild horse race in which teams of three try to harness, saddle and ride through barrels horse so spirited they refuse to be “broke” in the old cowboy sense of the word. Admission is $10, or $8 for students. Kids under 10 get in free. And if you don’t have your kids with you, feel free to watch from the Ridge Riders’ whiskey and beer garden.

A bullrider holds on during the 2012 Cleatis Lacey Bullarama in Grand Coulee.
A bullrider holds on during the 2012 Cleatis Lacey Bullarama in Grand Coulee.

Largest laser show in North America debuts Saturday at 10 p.m.

On Saturday night at 10 p.m., the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will debut its new laser light show on the face of Grand Coulee Dam. At more than a mile wide and as high as the Washington Monument, it’s the largest laser light show in North America. And it’s free.

This new show features all-new content on the history of the Columbia River, its people, the dam and its effects on the region and nation. The production and equipment to show it cost $1.6 million and replaces the original show that ran for 25 years.

I’ve seen some preview clips on the Internet, but I’m not going to post them here. Those do the show a disservice, because you cannot get the same effect reducing a mile-wide spectacle to a tiny screen. Just come and see it. The best place to watch it is at the Visitor Center at the dam or in the park just below the VC. But below is photo of people watching the show that ran for 25 years.

Visitors watch the Laser Light Show on the face of Grand Coulee Dam.
Visitors watch the old Laser Light Show on the face of Grand Coulee Dam.

 

Astounding Facts, Events, Soon, To Dos

Welcome Athletes!

Saturday, the area is treated to the display of some of the most amazing, determined seekers of perfection ever, triathletes competing in the three-pronged race that makes good use of hundreds of local miles and awesome scenery.

The Grand Columbian Triathlon’s 10th race in the coulee will bring up to a couple hundred athletes to the swim-bike-run events.

It all starts on Friday night with a spaghetti feed put on by the Rotary Club at the Church of the Nazarene from 4 to 7:30. But that’s the easy part.

The real competition starts at Spring Canyon early Saturday morning. Check out the details inside our special section below.

Events, Soon, To Dos

Harvest Festival offer something for everyone Friday and Saturday

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Fun on a hayride at North Dam Park in 2012

 

Here’s all about the Harvest Festival starting Friday, September 13, 2013.
There’s something for everyone here.

Community-wide yard (park) sale

There’s still time to be a part of the Chamber of Commerce’s community yard sale Friday and Saturday at North Dam Park. You can set up there for a $10 fee good for both days.

It’s one of the features of the two-day fall Harvest Festival.

Bring your own tables and set up for what could become a busy time sharing your pre-owned articles.

Yard sales are one of the community pastimes and the festival should produce plenty of lookers and potentially buyers. You can call the Chamber, 633-3074, for additional details.

 

Hay rides on Saturday

Terry Batterman is providing the team of horses and Janet O’Neil the wagon for Saturday’s hay rides.

The team and wagon will be near the skateboard park area from 10-4 on Saturday. The hosts say that young and old can take part in a good old-fashioned hayride through the park area roads.

The wagon will be loaded with hay bales as seating for the ride.

 

Costumed pet show

Bob Valen, a member of the Chamber Board of Directors, will run the Costumed Pet Show at the skateboard area.

Be creative — and take a chance that your pet will be good natured about it all — and be part of the judged show.

Last year more than a dozen pet owners dressed up their pets and put on quite a show.

Valen said that pets and their owners will show off, and then judges will make awards.

There’s plenty of room to show off your pets, or be a spectator to enjoy the pets, hopefully at their best.

The show is from 11 a.m. Saturday to noon.

 

Bring kids to the petting zoo

Come in to North Dam Park Saturday and meet “Spike,” the bearded dragon lizard. That’s all we are going to say about Spike; you’ll just have to come see for yourself.

It’s all part of the Petting Zoo Saturday from 10-4 at North Dam Park.

Spike will be on hand for only an hour, from noon to 1 p.m., so make your plan now to be there.

The chamber says there will be alpacas, sheep, horses, donkeys and much more. Kids can get close and in most cases touch and pet the animals.

 

Chalk art in the park

This is a good time to show your art skills.

The chamber furnishes the chalk and you furnish the talent. Draw your creations where everyone can enjoy them.

The chalk art opportunity is for young and old alike. It runs from 1-4 Saturday at the skatepark arena.

 

Beer Garden for two days

A beer garden will be set up in the picnic area from 5-10 p.m. Friday and from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Adults only. Come and have a good time.

 

Rotary to offer a BBQ

The Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club plans a barbecue at North Dam Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rotarians will have hamburgers and German sausages and side dishes, and cold drinks for festival fans. Bring your appetites.

 

Sponsors

Sponsors for this year’s Harvest Festival in addition to the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce are the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, Loepps Furniture & Appliance and the Colville Tribal Casinos. For more information on this year’s Harvest Festival, contact the chamber at 509-633-3074.

 

 

Events

Junior rodeo to top weekend

mutton bustin
A mutton buster holds on for the ride at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds.

Despite the assertions of some, cowboys aren’t hatched, they’re raised with that special drive that makes them think they can tame any beast.

A fun place to watch that unfold is at a junior rodeo, just like the one the local Ridge Riders Saddle Club is putting on this weekend in Delano.

This Saturday and Sunday, July 20 and 21, young folks, ranging in age from  the 5-and-under crowd all the way up to 18, will give it their best, starting at 10 a.m. each day.

At least 70 contestants have already signed up for some 53 events ranging from mutton bustin’ to steer wrestling, bareback riding and barrel racing.

“It should be a great event,” Ridge Rider President George Kohout said.

The winners will get cash prizes and belt buckles, on which the club just spent about $5,000.

Kohout said the club’s cook shack will be open at 10 a.m. each day as well, and ready to serve up a great lunch.

Age categories include 5 and under, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-18 with each category separated into girls’ and boys’ events.

Events, Places to See, Soon, To Dos

Festival of America set for July 4-6

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Cell phones and digital cameras try to capture the fireworks, as the moon pops up in the background above Grand Coulee Dam during the 2011 fireworks off the top of the dam.

Celebration planned for 4th of July

Everyone likes a good, old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration.

You can enjoy one this week, the “Festival of America” a three-day affair, right here in the Grand Coulee Dam area.

The celebration kicks off on Thursday, July 4, with music in the park below the Visitor Center.

There’s lots to do. A number of craft booths will offer goods and several food booths will fix a summer-time lunch or dinner for you.

The music will take you right up to the Laser Light Show time. And to cap it all off, about 10:30 p.m., there will be the giant fireworks display right off the top of Grand Coulee Dam on July 4.

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Award winning Elvis impersonator Steve Sogura headlines this year’s show, joined by the Cruizers with classic rock, Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising with bluegrass and more.

Music in the park continues Friday and Saturday, as do the craft and food booths, with tours of the dam and Laser Light Show adding to the celebration.

The chamber of commerce has added a number of family-friendly games, good for all ages, at this year’s celebration.

Plus, this year the community will see the debut of the sport of roller derby in this area. Teams from around the state will come for a demonstration skrimmage July 5 at North Dam Park in Grand Coulee.

The Festival of America is sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Coulee Dam Casino, with music arranged for by the town of Coulee Dam.

All the particulars are in a special “Festival of America” celebration section below.