September 18, 2008 in Voices

Let’s Valleyfest

Annual event adds hot air balloons to mix of parade, food, family and children’s activities this weekend
Treva Lind Correspondent
 

Valleyfest

Schedule

Friday

7 p.m. – Hearts of Gold Parade down Sprague Avenue between Pines and University roads

Saturday

6:45 a.m. – Hot air balloon launch (weather permitting)

8-11 a.m. – Pancake breakfast, CenterPlace

9 a.m.-6 p.m. – Entertainment, games and activities at the Spokane Valley Senior Center

9 a.m. – Run for Hunger, Centennial Trail, CenterPlace

10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Booths, entertainment, fishing at the falls, Loggingfest in Mirabeau Park

10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Meadow-Festival stage entertainment

2-6 p.m. – Valley YMCA open house

4:30 p.m. – Adult beer and wine garden outside CenterPlace

5 p.m. – Artists Showcase, CenterPlace (Tickets are $75, includes wine, music and hors d’oeuvres.)

Sunday

6:45 a.m. – Hot air balloon launch (weather permitting)

10 a.m. – Nondenominational worship service in Mirabeau Park

10 a.m. – Bike ride on Centennial Trail

11 a.m.- 4 p.m. – Booths, activities, Loggingfest and entertainment in the park

11 a.m.- 4 p.m. – Dog training classes, demonstrations and adoptions

Noon-4 p.m. – Meadow-Festival stage entertainment

 For a complete schedule, visit www.valleyfest.org

No movies

 The Cinema in the Park movies had to be canceled last minute this year, for lack of sponsorship.

 Another Saturday evening option is still open, organized by the Spokane Valley Arts Council. Tickets priced at $75 can be purchased at the door for the 5 p.m. Artists Showcase in the Great Room at CenterPlace with an art demonstration and auction, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, wine and entertainment.

Inside

The annnual Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford starts Friday./4

Visitors to Valleyfest this weekend will find plenty to do for all ages, from 155 booths, food and multistage entertainment to the newest attraction – hot air balloons – weather permitting.

It all kicks off 7 p.m. Friday with the Hearts of Gold Parade, running along Sprague Avenue between Pines and University roads.

“The parade has over 100 entries this year,” said Valleyfest chairwoman Peggy Doering. “Make sure you come early and pick out your spot.”

Early birds also can learn the best viewing sites Saturday and Sunday mornings for the hot air balloon launches. Pilot briefings are scheduled for 6 a.m. inside CenterPlace to determine if wind conditions call for launch at Liberty Lake or CenterPlace.

“We’ll have seven fantastic balloons over the Valley,” added Doering. “It’s a rally and there will be marks across the Valley. The pilots come in with a bag to hit a target. They have to come down low.”

Free STA bus shuttles starting at 8:30 a.m. will run only on Saturday this year from the Valley Mall and other locations to Mirabeau Point Park, the central location of the 19th annual Valleyfest. The all-volunteer organization was not able to find a sponsor for Sunday buses, Doering said. However, she added that plenty of parking should be available nearby in the Pinecroft Business Park east of Pines Road.

A separate Spokane Valley Senior Center van will roll 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with stops at Safeway’s Mission and Argonne store, the Opportunity Presbyterian Church and Joe’s Sports store. The senior center shuttle will transport people to a full day of activities, including a dance with Six-Foot Swing Band.

“We’ve got the party bus for the senior center,” Doering said. “All you have to do is put on your dancing shoes and go.”

On the nearby Centennial Trail, the 9 a.m. Run for a Cause on Saturday is focused on world hunger, Doering said, with an eye to the potato as an international food staple.

“The run benefits the Spokane Valley Food Bank and is based on the International Year of the Potato, bringing focus to world hunger. They’re looking at the potato as a cure for world hunger because it’s resistant to disease and uses less land and water.”

“We’re really going big with the potato this year.”

One of the hot air balloons has a potato plant theme, and a booth will offer a potato bar with all the fixings sponsored by the Washington Potato Commission – donating 3,000 spuds – and Yokes. All of the hot potato proceeds will go to the food bank.

Also on Saturday, the popular classic car show will be back, along with a fishing event for kids at the falls.

A 10 a.m. Sunday nondenominational church service will be held in the park. Most booth and activities run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

A new event on Sunday welcomes the dogs – responsibly. Only well-behaved, vaccinated canines on a leash are welcomed for Sunday’s dog activities hosted by the Spokane Kennel Club. Dogs can attend training clinics and owners can see K-9 demonstrations. Local animal shelter workers will be on hand to answer questions and have dogs available for on-the-spot adoptions.

The all-new Literacy Outreach on Saturday and Sunday will expose families to the joys of reading, storytelling and imagination building. A huge teepee will host guest storytellers. Kids get to pick up a free book on the way out.

One of those storytellers is Cliff SiJohn, with the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort, telling Native American stories. Children also get to see favorite book characters, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog. Families can sign up for library cards, watch the Theatre Arts for Children perform 10-minute plays and see Gymboree’s baby sign language.

Other entertainment includes cultural dance groups, Loggingfest, cowboy poetry, kid activities and new sport demonstrations such as speedminton. Several musicians perform both days, including The Sammy Eubanks Band, Smash Hit Carnival and Nobody Famous, a Jimmy Buffet tribute.

Contact correspondent Treva Lind by e-mail at

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