Area Festivals Kick Into Action Several Small Towns On Display This Weekend

Thu., June 25, 1998

By Nina Culver nculver47@gmail.com

People living in cities like Spokane and Coeur d’Alene can sometimes forget that plenty of fun activities go on in the smaller towns that dot the Inland Northwest.

There’s something special about festivals in smaller towns — fewer people make for a more intimate feel and you never know what interesting events will come up. Check out the mud volleyball at Slippery Gulch Days or the clowns at the Newport Rodeo.

Here’s a look at some special events happening this weekend. It’s worth a drive to check them out.

Newport Rodeo

The Newport PWRA Rodeo runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s a great rodeo for such a small town and usually attracts some of the best cowboys in the Northwest. Even the clowns are a cut above average.

The rodeo’s at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The event includs a carnival, crafts, a beer garden, and food.

Saturday, a parade begins along Union Street at 11 a.m., followed by entertainment at the Newport City Park. Gospel Opry plays at 1 p.m., country-western band Full Ride performs at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Easy Pickins’ plays at 3:30 p.m.

A cowboy breakfast will be dished out 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday; cost is $3.50, $2 for kids. A barbecue will be served 4-7:30 p.m. Saturday; cost is $7, $4 for seniors and children 11 and younger.

Rodeo tickets are $7 for Saturday’s performance ($8 at the gate), $6 for Friday’s and Sunday’s performances ($7 at the gate). Children ages 6-12 get in to any rodeo performance for $3.

Tickets are available in Newport at Seafirst Bank, Safeway, Napa Auto Supply, the Newport Miner, Big Wheel Pizza and Food Fresh; in Spokane, get tickets at Indiana Harness, 3030 E. Sprague; Corral West Ranchwear, 9620 N. Newport Highway and Big R Supply, 8325 E. Trent.

For additional ticket outlets, call the Newport Chamber of Commerce at (509) 447-5812.

Slippery Gulch Days

The city of Tekoa is packing a lot of activities into its Slippery Gulch celebration this weekend. A variety show will set the tone at 7 tonight. Three-on-three basketball will be at 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by a dance for adults at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s events will start with the Chamber of Commerce breakfast at 7 a.m. and a five-mile fun run at 8 a.m. A kid’s parade and a regular parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. A full lineup of entertainment will fill the afternoon. Performances begin after the parade and will feature the Inland Northwest Bluegrass Band, square dancers, the Spokane Storytelling League and a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe will demonstrate drumming and storytelling.

Saturday’s events also include family games, foot races, mule polo, mud volleyball, a horseshoe contest, a petting zoo, a variety of vendors, a historic film presentation, wagon rides, a softball tournament, and historic trades and crafts. The day’s events will conclude with a fireworks display at dusk and a teen dance at 10:30 p.m.

Art in the Park

Omak’s Civic League Park will host the 24th annual Art in the Park on Saturday and Sunday. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The juried show will feature more than 30 artists selling a variety of art forms, including jewelry, pottery, glass, wood and quilts. Several food vendors will also be on site. Admission is free.

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