Doering Named As New Director Of Valley Fest

Spokane Valley’s homegrown celebration, Valley Fest, has a new director.

Peggy Doering, an experienced volunteer and Valley Fest board member, has taken on leadership of the Sept. 21-22 event for one year.

With “something for everyone” - performances, arts and crafts, entertainment, parade, food, a dunk tank for politicians and even free bingo - Valley Fest is too strong an event to lose momentum now, Doering said.

Valley Fest founder Sue DeLucchi moved from Spokane recently.

Doering said her first priorities for the sixth annual event are to secure corporate sponsors and form the 12 committees that are the backbone of Valley Fest.

Safeco Insurance Co., previously a sponsor, has donated $4,000 for this year’s event. Safeco spokesman Gale Thrasher said company employees will be involved as volunteers, as well.

Valley Fest Foundation President Mike DeVleming said discussions are under way with the Spokane Symphony about a performance.

The board expects it will take $55,000-$60,000 in cash and in-kind donations to stage the festival. That counts everything from the symphony’s donated performance to Spokane County’s equipment - “picnic tables to porta-potties,” DeVleming said.

An organizational meeting for Valley Fest is scheduled Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., in the upper level conference room at the U.S. Bank on Argonne and Mullan.

, DataTimes