Celebrate the Valley with picnic in park

In the 1920s, the All Valley Picnic was a big deal.

Business owners would shut down in the middle of the week and head to the Liberty Lake dance pavilion for the day. And if you didn’t go, you could expect to be razzed by men with bullhorns, politely encouraging people to make for the lake.

Nobody will be barking from a megaphone to get people to attend the modern resurrection of the All Valley Picnic next Saturday, but Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce President Eldonna Gossett hopes people will still want to visit the event.

At Liberty Lake’s Pavillion Park, several community organizations will assemble and put on an event to rival summer festivals in the old days, Gossett said.

“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate being in the Valley,” Gossett said.

The Liberty Lake Kiwanis will have a food booth at the event, and the Spokane Arts Council will host an art walk. The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum will host a historical display.

The city of Liberty Lake also will help put on an antique car show, and the Friends of Pavillion Park hope the event will transition into their evening concert, Jr. Cadillac.

Various businesses will also have games available, and Spokane Teachers Credit Union is helping the chamber put on the event, with a large birthday cake and a tent.

For more information, call the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce at 924-4994.