July Fourth Weekend Packed With Fun Loads Of Holiday Entertainment Awaits You Just A Short Drive Away

Thu., July 1, 1999

Nina Culver Correspondent

A variety of festivals in Eastern Washington are on tap for the Fourth of July weekend, each offering a unique opportunity for some fun in our great outdoors. More than 100 boats are expected to race up the Pend Oreille River near Newport for the U.S. Short Course Nationals, and the annual Toppenish Pow Wow Rodeo begins today. Other events include the Sun Faire in Othello and Smokiam in Soap Lake.

U.S.Short Course Nationals

More than 100 boats from across the United States are expected to speed up the Pend Oreille River near Newport on Saturday and Sunday. Boats, during the races from noon to 5 p.m. each day, are expected to reach speeds up to 100 mph. The race is sanctioned by the American Outboard Federation. There will be public viewing on the east side of the river; parking will be available for $2.

Newport is also planning several other events in the city park this weekend: Live music from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Featured groups include the Black Irish Band, Mila, and the Eguador Incas. There will also be hands-on art projects for the kids from 4 to 6 p.m. each day.

To reach Newport from Spokane, drive north on Highway 2.

Toppenish Pow Wow Rodeo

The 67th Pow Wow and rodeo kicks off today and runs through Sunday at the rodeo grounds. The carnival opens at noon daily, while authentic Indian dance competitions and games begin at 4 p.m. daily in the Indian Village on the grounds.

A Bull-o-Rama begins at 8 tonight. PRCA rodeo performances begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and include mutton bustin’ and wild horse racing. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 4 to 12 years old, and children under 4 are admitted free. For advance tickets, call (509) 865-3982.

Other highlights include performances by the band Los Emocionantes and the Spanish Hi School Dancing Horses, both at 3 p.m. daily in the arena. A Wild West parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, traveling down Toppenish Avenue.

Other Saturday events are a watermelon-eating contest at 2 p.m., a money-in-the-haystack race at 2:30 p.m. and a pie-eating contest at 3.

Fireworks will be shot off after the rodeo performances on Saturday and Sunday.

To reach Toppenish, head west on I-90 toward Ellensburg. Take the Interstate 82 exit and drive south past Yakima, then take the Highway 97 exit south to Toppenish.

Smokiam festival

Soap Lake is once again hosting the Smokiam festival Friday through Sunday in East Beach Park. A flea market will be open the entire weekend.

Things start happening Saturday with a parade at 10 a.m. that begins at the high school and winds through the business district. There will be music, food and volleyball in the park beginning at 11. A teen dance runs from 5 to 8 p.m. in the park.

On Sunday, fun in the park continues with food and music beginning at 1 p.m. The band Cool Waters performs at 3 p.m. A salmon feed will run from 5 to 8 p.m. for $10 per person. Fireworks will fill the night sky at dusk.

To get to Soap Lake, head west on I-90 to Moses Lake, take the Highway 17 exit and turn north.

Sun Faire

Lions Park in Othello will be hopping Saturday as numerous Sun Faire events get underway. The day begins with 5k and 10k runs at 8:15 a.m. A three-on-three basketball tournament begins at 9, and a parade starts at 10 in Pioneer Park and winds through downtown. The All Cities Classics Car Club will have cars on display in Lions Park at 11.

Fun for the kids starts at 11 a.m. with face painting, a cake walk and inflatable, interactive games.

A talent show at 11:30 a.m. is expected to include half-hour shows by nearly a dozen performers, including the Rockin’ B Cloggers, the Nazarene Church youth group, the Sacred Heart Spanish Dancers and the Junior Miss girls.

The entertainment resumes with the band Begger Man’s Thief at 7 p.m. and Stan Sessions at 8. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Sunday’s events include a nondenominational worship service at 10 a.m. in Lions Park and a demolition derby at 4 p.m. at the Othello Fairgrounds.

To reach Othello, head west on I-90 to Moses Lake, then take the Highway 17 exit and turn south.

Colville Pow Wow

The Colville Confederated Tribes Pow Wow is scheduled to begin Friday in Nespelem and run through July 11. The celebration of heritage and culture will include dancing, drumming and food. Additional information was unavailable at press time. Call (509) 633-0751 for more information.

To reach Nespelem from Spokane, drive west on Highway 2 to Wilbur, take Highway 174 northwest to Grand Coulee, then head north on Highway 155.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.