Tag Archives: Grand Coulee Dam

Soon, To Dos

Bull riding and concert series will feature talent from near and far

 

A series of free concerts is scheduled for North Dam Park and events center this month, starting on Friday, Aug. 17.

And the Wednesday night before that, bull riding fans can get their fix of “beer, burgers and bulls” in a special event at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds.

The rodeo grounds open at 6 p.m., Aug. 15, for what could become a frequent event next year. Bull riding begins at 7 p.m.
Then on Friday night, a local rock group called Mister Meaner will take to the “stage” at the bottom of the grass amphitheater.
The very next evening a cool trio from Spokane, The 45s, will rock your Saturday night with a rockabilly sound. Think “The Stray Cats” and you’ll come to close to hearing this fun band.

The next weekend starts with a Friday night concert by Thirsty Perfect, a Coeur D’Alene, Idaho Christian rock band, sponsored by Faith Commu

 

nity Church. The next night Mister Meaner hopes the word will have spread, and you’ll bring your friends back for a good time.

Labor Day weekend kicks of Aug. 31 with a big-name band in the Pacific Northwest — Jr. Cadillac. Folks who gathered for their concert in the park last year had a great time, and said they wanted more.
Saturday night, Sept. 1, will see another encore from a band that proved popular last year. “33” bills itself as the loudest band in Spokane. By the way, we should do something to welcome back Joe Oliver that night, a band member originally from the coulee.

The series is sponsored by the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, which is advertising it across the state and paying for it with the help of tourism tax dollars from Electric City, Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam.

 

Places to See, Soon, To Dos

Festival of America music lineup aims to please

Four musical acts spanning a range of tastes will provide the musical foreground for the Festival of America at Grand Coulee Dam July 3 and 4.
From the Cruizers, a popular Spokane band that popular songs, to a country duet, to a 60s folk singer to an Elvis impersonator, the entertainment is tailored to appeal.
– The headliner just before the July 4 Laser Light Show and fireworks, Steve Sogura does a dynamite tribute to Elvis that seems to leave a lot of the audience either up on their feet or swooning.
He’ll start about 8:15 on both July 3 and July 4.
The Cruisers, a popular cover band from Spokane, will entertain from 5 to about 8 p.m. July 3.
– Scott and Kayla, each with talent-show winning gifts in their own rights, team up for some great country music from 5 to 6:30 p.m. July 4.
– A former New Christy Minstrel, William Florian delivers a powerful trip to the 60s with music that will make you feel good. Even if you don’t know who the New Christy Minstrels were, you’ll know their legacy from the rebirth of folk that has influenced much of popular music since.
Entertainment in the park below the Visitor Center is paid for by the town of Coulee Dam’s hotel/motel taxes for the promotion of tourism.

The stage schedule
July 3
5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Cruizers
8:15 p.m. Steve Sogura’s Elvis tribute

July 4
5 p.m. Scott and Kayla’s country music
6:30 p.m. William Florian’s 60s music
8:15 p.m. Steve Sogura’s Elvis tribute

A tour group leaves the big bus to peer over the edge of the dam as the Columbia roars over the top.

Places to See, To Dos

High-tech Treasure Hunt Offered at Grand Coulee and two other Columbia River Dams

 

Grand Coulee Dam holds back the mighty Columbia River in the lake we call Roosevelt.

Visitors to three Columbia River dams, including Grand Coulee, can join in on a high-tech educational treasure hunt that could earn them a special patch simply by taking part in the “D3 Geocache Challenge” beginning May 27 and continuing through Labor Day.

The visitor centers at Bureau of Reclamation’s Grand Coulee Dam; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Chief Joseph Dam; and the Chelan County Public Utility District’s Rocky Reach Dam will be the starting point to discover the hidden treasures of hydropower production and other essential facts about the role large dams play in the Pacific Northwest.

Geocaching uses GPS (global positioning system) devices GPS-capable smartphones to find a “cache” or treasure box containing educational information and a prize. It’s great fun and can lead you on many adventures, including this one, which offers even more to see when you find the cache at Grand Coulee Dam, and amazing tour all by itself.

For those completing all three geocaches at Grand Coulee, a special prize awaits at the visitor center.  Those wanting to win the D3 Geocache Challenge patch must visit all three dams and complete all the caches.

Each visitor center will hide three or four caches on their grounds, for educational purposes.

“This is a great opportunity for visitors to have some fun exploring these areas while also winning a special patch showing that they met the challenge,” said Lynne Brougher, Grand Coulee Dam public affairs officer.

The fun starts when participants receive a “D3 Challenge Passport” along with GPS coordinates at each visitor center and follow the coordinates to locate at least three or four geocache sites at each dam. Each site will consist of a box containing an educational activity sheet. Remember to bring a pen or pencil to complete the activity sheet.

Participants will record answers to questions they learned while touring the dams and return the completed sheets to the visitor center to have their “passport” stamped and earn a prize.  Questions can include facts about hydropower production, irrigation, flood control or recreation.

Tour guides will be on hand to explain the D3 Challenge and assist participants in getting started on their adventure, Brougher said.
For more information call the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center at (509) 633-9265.

Astounding Facts, Boating, swimming and fishing, Day Trips, Places to See, Soon, To Dos

New Visitors’ Guide coming out; see the print edition online now

Our latest printed issue of the Visitors’ Guide is at the printers’, but in this day and age, why wait?
Take a look right now by clicking on the image below to open it up in your browser (Flash required, sorry; so here’s a link for iPhone or iPad access. It’s limited.)

Soon, To Dos

55th Colorama full of things to do

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Colorama is a fun ride, and that's no bull.

The 55th Colorama celebration is coming on fast. It begins May 10, with the opening of the Paradise Amusement Carnival and lasts through Sunday with the Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding event, May 13, at the Ridge Riders Rodeo grounds.

The events:
• The carnival kicks off at 5 p.m. Thursday, opens Friday at 3 p.m. for two sessions and again Saturday at 11 a.m. for two sessions.
There are discount tickets at various venues in the area through Thursday. Discount tickets go for $25 for each session (savings of about $10) and are available at The Star newspaper, Chamber of Commerce office, North Cascades National Bank, H&H Grocery and Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union.
• Come to the traditional Arts & Crafts Fair at North Dam Park, opening at 10 a.m. both Friday and Saturday. Don’t worry about lunch because there are a lot of good food booths.
• The Pro-West Rodeo lasts three days this year, with the added Sunday Cleatis Lacy Bull Riding event. The rodeo begins at 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
• The Senior Cowboy Breakfast takes off at 7 a.m. Saturday and runs until 10:30 a.m. Better show up and get fed before the big parade.
• The big parade, the highlight of the Colorama celebration, begins at 11 a.m. and travels from Les Schwab on Federal Avenue, then down Midway Avenue.
• The Over the Dam Run, for 5K, 10K and half marathon take off on the east side of Grand Coulee Dam and end up at North Dam Park.
• The popular “Walk Across the Dam” sponsored by the Rotary Club will again be offered as a new-school fund raiser.
• Colorama Buttons are on sale throughout the community. Purchase one for $3 and you could be the winner of several prizes being offered.
• More events: Check out the arm wrestling contest Saturday at Pepper Jack’s. And Curt Davis will play guitar and sing at North Dam Park at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.