It’s hot, it’s cool – a slice of summer
‘All-American event’ in Liberty Lake exudes summertime, with sun-splashed seasonal activities suited to all ages
Ice cream, water slides, carnival games, cotton candy and shiny classic cars: Quintessential summer fun was on display Saturday at Liberty Lake Days.
“It’s an all-American event,” said Justin Tharp, pulling his young daughter behind him in a wagon. “(It’s) a great event for the family. Good food, lots of neat cars.”
And, he added, “Who can pass up a bouncy house?”
The festival also featured an egg toss, a three-legged race, a pie-eating competition, a cakewalk, live entertainment and vendor booths. A talking robot roamed the park playfully heckling people as they played ring toss and other games.
“This is our community,” said Emmylou Newell, who was at the festival with her husband and two daughters.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to get out and the kids have fun. This is a great place.”
Renee Lutey said she brings her grandchildren to the festival at Pavillion Park every year.
“I love it,” said Lutey, whose favorite part of the festival is the classic car show. “Just a lot of activities for the grandkids. It keeps them busy. They get pooped out by the end of the day.”
Face-painted kids competed for tickets redeemable for prizes such as candy, glow-in-the-dark bugs, small stuffed animals, squirt guns and other toys.
Saphyre Tharp, 7, proudly showed off her haul: a purple bouncy ball, a rubber flamingo, a candy necklace and a butterfly tattoo.
“I was winning a lot of tickets,” which was her favorite part, she said. “It’s really fun.”
Children got a chance to cool down on the blow-up water slides, while both young and old marveled at dozens of classic cars from the ’20s and later, the hoods popped to show off burly engines inside, wheels painstakingly polished, candy paint sparkling in the sun.
“I love these kinds of cars,” Lutey said. “They’re very pretty. They’re excellent colors. They’re just good cars.”