Carnival tickets are on sale this week, offering substantial savings for early birds, a chamber of commerce official reported.

Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal stated those who purchase carnival tickets by Thursday, May 10, will save $10. Tickets for early buyers are $20, while the same ticket will cost $30 the day of the carnival.

Nevsimal said tickets will be available at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce office, Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, Coulee Hardware, The Star newspaper, Loepps Furniture, H&H Grocery and the Trading Post at the Colville Indian Agency.

The carnival has added five hours on Sunday, providing four days of carnival entertainment for Colorama fans.

Carnival hours will be from 4-9 on Thursday, May 10; 4-9 on Friday, May 11; 12-9 on Saturday, May 12; and 12-5 on Sunday, Mother’s Day.

This marks the second year for the popular Rainier Amusements, a family-owned carnival out of Portland, Oregon.

“We are happy to have Rainier Amusements back for their second year,” Nevsimal stated Tuesday. The Portland-based carnival company is under contract to return again next year.

Rainier Amusements regularly travels to festival sites in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Tickets go on sale at all seven sites beginning today, Wednesday.

It’s just another reason why they call it Colorama!

The 5K Color Run on Saturday, May 12, has a lot of attractions.

First and foremost, it’s going to be a fun, colorful experience and a good brisk walk or run that is good for your health.

It’s starts at 9 a.m., and could get you decorated for the rest of the day. At several places along the 5K run, if you choose to, you could be dusted with a brightly colored material that will make your day a real “Colorama.” Getting sprayed with the colorful material is optional.

The 5K Color Run is all in the North Dam Park area, weaving its way over the dam, around the rocks, back over the dam and then winding its way through the various roads and trail networks below the park.

You don’t have to run or walk along the highway.

But you have to get your entry form in. Do it now to save three bucks. It’s $22 now, but it will be $25 on May 12.

Go to the chamber’s website at grandcouleedam.org/colorrun and get your entry in online, or if you choose, you can drop by the chamber office and do it there.

The 5K Color Run is not a timed run, and there are no awards.

Be part of Colorama.

Oh, and you’ll get a T-shirt.

This Saturday, Oct. 21 there will be a breast cancer awareness fun run/walk at North Dam Park, and later in the day a chili cook-off at the Banks Lake Golf Course. Read more about them both here.