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Things to Do in Spokane: 2013 Calendar of Events

Saturday, January 12th, 2013

Spokane is a vibrant, fun, beautiful city to visit any time of the year. Something is always going on! Below is a list, by no means complete, of some of the most popular annual events that draw people from all over the region.

From Garden in the Sea, one of the films being shown at the 2013 Spokane International Film Festival.

Spokane International Film Festival, February 1–10

This is a golden opportunity to see some of the previous year’s best films from all over the world on the big screen. Some of them may not ever be available on DVD in the United States. Festival passes are available. Individual tickets go on sale online January 12 and range from $5.00–$10.00. Films will be shown downtown in the Magic Lantern Theatre and the Bing Crosby Theater. Click here for a list of this year’s selected films.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 16

Spokane celebrates all things Irish as well as a sense of community with a festive parade through downtown Spokane. Marching bands, creative floats, school groups from around the region, and dancing are some of the sights to be had. Come early to stake out a good place to watch! Click here for the parade route.

Lilac Bloomsday Run, May 5

The first Sunday of every May, runners, walkers, and people using wheelchairs trek 12 km (7.46 miles) in and around downtown Spokane, WA in one of the nation’s largest annual foot races. Elite runners competing for the championships come from all over the world, but many more people are there for the fun of it. Flamboyant costumes, creative team themes, and great on-course entertainment are guaranteed to help distract you from the physical exertion. You can register online anytime through April 21 for $17 plus $1.69 online processing fee. Beginning March 1, mail-in forms will be available at various locations around town (must be postmarked by April 16).

Spokane Lilac Festival, May 18

Spokane is known for its gorgeous, though short-lived, lilacs that bloom in the spring. Each year, at around the time the lilacs are blooming, the community celebrates with a big torchlight parade, a car show, and several other events featuring the Lilac Royalty (princesses and a queen). The main events are on Saturday, May 18. The Cruzin’ the Falls Classic Car Show runs 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. downtown on Spokane Falls Boulevard, and the 75th Spokane Lilac Festival Diamond Anniversary Armed Forces Torchlight Parade starts at 7:45, also downtown. Click here for a full list of Lilac Festival events.

IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene, June 23

Coeur d’Alene’s IRONMAN triathlon course is one of the most scenic in the nation. Competitors swim two loops (2.4 miles total) in beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene, cycle two loops (112 miles total) through rural, scenic North Idaho, and run two loops (26.2 miles total) parallel to the lake. Spectators cheer on the athletes during the running course. There will be 50 qualifying Age Group slots to the IRONMAN World Championship on offer at the 2013 IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene. About 2,800 people participate.

This very popular event is already sold out for general entries, but there are still Ironman Foundation entry fee spots available ($1,250, half of which goes to the Ironman Foundation). Come and support a competing athlete you know or just watch this incredible feat of endurance!

Hoopfest, June 29–30

This is the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the world, with over 7,000 teams and almost 28,000 players in 2012. People of all abilities can put together a team and register, but the youngest players must be entering the third grade in fall of 2013. From the 3BA Elite Division to occasional players, there is a bracket for everyone, and prizes are awarded to the winners in each bracket. Registration opens March 15. If you want to be actively involved without playing, volunteer! Hoopfest is made possible by 3,000 people who volunteer their time.

Independence Day Festival, July 4

Music and other live entertainment, food, vendors, community booths, and fireworks at dusk at Riverfront Park.

The Dirty Dash

The Spokane Dirty Dash, July 13

At the Riverside State Park Equestrian Area on July 13, you can stomp in puddles all you want, whether you are 8 or 80, and no one will care that you are ruining your shoes and splattering everyone around you. In fact, it’s actually the point of the event to get just as filthy as you possibly can while negotiating a slippery, 3.5 mile obstacle course of walls, mud hills, pipes, giant slip ‘n slides, and more features. There is even a “Beer Chug Obstacle” (root beer also available) where you will chug a beer before attempting the challenge (for beer, you must present your ID and get a wrist band before the race starts). There is also a shorter Piglet Plunge for ages 2–12 (must be accompanied by a parent, $20 to register), a 1-mile course with kid-friendly obstacles and features like the “Hog Wash” and the “Pig Sty.”

Register as a team or an individual. Costumes, bad mustaches, and outrageous hair are highly encouraged, and you might just win prizes for them, along with other creative categories. Cost is $35.00 through January 31, then it goes up gradually until July 10, when it is $55.00.

Pig Out in the Park, Labor Day Weekend

Don’t miss one of the best free music festivals in the Northwest, held in Riverfront Park. This huge, six-day celebration begins on the Wednesday before Labor Day. Three stages plus roving entertainment provide something for everyone. Of course, there are also about 54 food booths offering up all kinds of cuisine, from foot-long hot dogs to samosas. Local and regional bands as well as national headliners play.

Spokane County Interstate Fair, September 6–15

It’s all here—farm animals, amusement rides, rodeo, live music, art, crafts, giant produce, wickedly good junk food, trinkets, antique machinery, and much more. The fair ushers in the fall; it’s the last big summer weather event. Watch the website for details of the 2013 fair as they become available!

Spokane Oktoberfest

Spokane Oktoberfest, September

The exact dates have not been announced yet, but in the second half of September, the 4^th annual Spokane Oktoberfest will be held in Riverfront Park. This 21-and-older event features a large variety of Washington state beers for tasting. Live music, German concession food, and an Oktoberfest costume contest are all part of the fun.

Green Bluff Growers Festivals, May through December

Green Bluff, home to a few dozen farms, is located about 15 miles north of Spokane in the scenic foothills of Mt. Spokane. During the summer and fall, you can visit growers and buy food directly where it is grown. You can even pick your own berries, tree fruits, pumpkins, and more. On festival weekends, farmers and shops offer live music, farm-fresh cuisine, tours, and more. Some farms have play areas for kids, petting zoos, wagon rides, and corn mazes. There are even wineries and candy makers to visit.

Green Bluff farms open up to the public beginning with the Blooms on the Bluff (flowers, plants, crafts) on Mother’s Day Weekend. At the end of June and beginning of July, you can enjoy some super fresh, sweet, local strawberries during the Strawberry Festival. Next is the Cherry Festival, two weekends in July, including the Cherry Picker’s Trot annual fun run. The Peach Festival runs late August through Labor Day, and the Apple Festival is late September to the end of October. You can even come back for holiday shopping during Holiday Memories November 23 through December 24 and cut your own Christmas tree or pick up unique, local food gifts. Each farm has its own hours and events. Click here for the growers’ map, from which you can access information pages for each farm

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Spoil Yourself with Spa Treatments This Weekend at the Health Beauty Spa Show January 5–6, 2013, SCC Lair

Thursday, January 3rd, 2013

Just in time for post-holiday recuperation, the 8^th annual Health Beauty Spa Show will offer dozens of fun mini spa treatments this weekend at Spokane Community College. Admission is just $7 ($5 with a non-perishable food or hygiene donation to the YWCA), and tickets for treatments are $5 each. Your pampering options include chair massages, mini makeovers, paraffin hand dips, glitter tattoos, hand scrubs with massage, updo hairstyles, and facial waxing. For a complete list of exhibitors and treatments, click here.

This show is a great opportunity to meet people from area health and beauty businesses. Spas, chiropractors, salons, and fitness centers will be on hand. If you want to get a total makeover, enter the before and after photo contest for a chance to win a night’s stay for two at the Bonneville Hot Springs and Spa. Complimentary before and after photos are provided by Infinity Photography and Design.

The Health Beauty Spa Show is Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 12–5 p.m. Be sure to sign up for your must-do treatments first, as waiting lists fill up quickly. The show will be held in the Spokane Community College Lair Building, off Mission Street just east of Greene. Parking is free.

Posted in Deals, Events, Shows, Spokane | 1 Response »

Ring in the New Year with Music, Dancing, Art, Comedy, and Fireworks Downtown at First Night Spokane

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

The biggest, most inclusive New Year’s Eve party in Spokane starts at 6:00 p.m. (some kids’ activities start at 3:00 p.m.) It runs until midnight, but you won’t run out of things to do and probably will not have time to see everything you want to! Click here for a description of the dozens of performance and attractions at First Night Spokane 2013. Admission buttons are just $12 through December 30 or $15 on December 31. Kids 10 and under are free when accompanied by a button-bearing adult. Get your buttons at Cenex Zip Trip stores, the River Park Square concierge desk, Auntie’s Book Store, or Mountain West Bank. Not going to be near any of those places in the next few days? Just order online and pick up your buttons at the Spokane Convention Center beginning at 3:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Your button gets you into all First Night events.

The evening begins with a masquerade parade at 6:10 p.m. from the Spokane Convention Center to the Riverfront Park Fountain and ends at midnight with a fireworks show that starts at 11:50 p.m. In between, there is a large variety of entertainment for everyone. As always, First Night Spokane is alcohol free and family friendly. To help you decide, here are some great choices, one for each hour counting down to 2013.

Just for Kids Pre-func: Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital Kids Night Out, 3:00–6:00 p.m.

Bring the kids to the Spokane Convention Center for three hours of fun. Activities are centered around this year’s First Night theme: Across the Universe: the Year of the U.F.O. Kids can create their favorite “Martian Marmot,” launch a rocket, get a robot hat, and put on a washable tattoo. There will be dancing, a “moon surface walk,” “space writing wall,” and music. There are even special activities just for tots 2–4 years old.

7:00 p.m.—Outrageous Wild Women Crown Making

Stop by first, or anytime throughout the evening, to decorate a personalized crown. Not just for kids! Grown-ups need to feel like royalty, too! Located in the Crescent Court, 2^nd floor.

8:00 p.m.—SCC Players at the Spokane Public Library

Check out live theatre performances by the Spokane Community College Players at 7:00, 8:00, or 9:00 p.m. Last year’s show included actors performing unique folk stories from faraway lands; this year is sure to be equally interesting. While you are there, check out the photographs of Afghanistan by Casey Johnson.

9:00 p.m.—Blue Door Theatre, Convention Center Conference Theatre

Check out Spokane’s great improvisational comedy group, Blue Door Theatre. They will perform every hour all night. Every show is different because it is influenced by audience participation and random, on-the-fly ideas. Very entertaining, with jokes that require creativity rather than crudeness—it’s all clean humor.

10:00 p.m.—48 Hour Film Festival, Produced by NXNW

Each year, local film makers are invited to enter short films that must be written, filmed, and edited in just 48 hours. In case you are wondering (I was) how they prevent cheating, NXNW keeps the storyline requirements secret until the 48 hour timeline begins. Come watch the contestants’ submissions anytime throughout the night in the Spokane City Council Chambers meeting room in the lower level of City Hall. If you don’t have time to catch them during First Night, you can watch them on YouTube.

11:00 p.m.—Ice Skating and Looff Carousel Rides

End your night in the park to be close by when the fireworks begin. Your button provides free rides on the carousel and free ice skating at the Ice Palace (skate rental is not free, though). As you stroll through the park, stop at the many bonfires to warm up, or warm up by dancing to DJ music at the Riverfront Park Fountain. Visual artists will also be showing their work in the area.

Parking

Get a happy start to your night, rather than an irritating one, by choosing the easy, free parking option for First Night Spokane! Park at the Riverpoint Campus just east of downtown at 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. in the yellow lot for free. Then catch a free STA bus, which will run every 10 minutes from 3:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m., to various venues of First Night. Catch a bus back at the end of your evening. Click here for a parking and shuttle service map. Easy peasy!

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Alternative, Uniquely Spokane Gift Ideas to Wow Everyone on Your List

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

Forgo the standard this year and surprise everyone on your list with gifts that are fun, memorable, and very Spokane! Most of these gifts emphasize experience over stuff. So they are perfect for kids, people who abhor clutter, or those who have “everything.” Read on for inspiring ideas to help you finish up your shopping fast!

Historic Looff Carrousel at Riverfront Park

Passes for Riverfront Park, Summer Swimming, and Golf

Right now, Spokane Parks and Recreation is offering amazing deals on passes to Riverfront Park’s attractions, the City Aquatic Centers, and the city’s four golf courses.

For Riverfront Park, you can get a holiday package to use now (valid 12/19/12 through 1/1/13) that includes an IMAX movie, ice skating admission and skate rental, mini-golf, and a carrousel ride for only $12. Or, you can give a summer 2013 season pass for unlimited access to the Looff Carrousel, amusement rides, mini-golf, and more for just $39.95. The season pass also includes discounts for the Spokane Falls SkyRide, concessions, parking, and Mobius Kids.

Kids and adult swimmers would love a City Aquatic Center summer 2013 pass for fitness swimming as well as fun water play toys and slides. Pre-season prices for these passes are deeply discounted, $39.95 for kids and seniors, $79.95 for adults, and $159.95 for families.

Golf passes and memberships for discounts are also available, including a special 25% off four-game package for $89 that is only available through December 25. Click here to order any of the Spokane Parks and Recreation gift passes.

Spokane Symphony Tickets for a Romantic Night Out

Good news! Our wonderful Spokane Symphony musicians and their board of directors have reached a two-year agreement that ends the recent five-week strike. This winter and spring, there are shows of all styles to choose from: the Spotlight Series, with the Commanders Jazz Ensemble or Savion Glover’s SoLe Sanctuary, the classics concerts, the SuperPops Series, with Cirque Musica or the Pirates of Penzance, the new Symphony with a Splash concerts, featuring local bands, and the Chamber Soiree concerts. You can buy tickets for individual shows online, at the box office at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox at 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Not sure which show to choose or when people are available? Give a Spokane Symphony gift certificate! Just call 509-624-1200 for more information.

Movie Night at Spokane’s Independent Theaters

There are two independent movie houses in Spokane, the Magic Lantern Theatre and the Garland Theater. The Magic Lantern, located downtown at 25 W. Main, is known for showing independent, foreign, and critically acclaimed films that you won’t find anywhere else in the area. Selections include comedies, dramas, documentaries, action flicks, and horror; however, there aren’t a lot of choices for young children, so a gift certificate here is probably best for the adults on your list. Ticket prices are only $7 all the time, but you may want to include enough on the gift certificate for some of the delicious, organic espresso, fresh popcorn, and desserts from Madeliene’s sold at the concession stand. Gift certificates are available at the theatre every day from a half hour before the day’s first scheduled show. Add a gift certificate to the Saranac, located in the same building with lots of good choices including fish, burgers, flatbread pizza, and vegan/vegetarian options, to make it a dinner-and-movie package. Call 509-473-9455 or stop by to get one.

The Garland Theatre, at 924 W. Garland Avenue, is a beautiful theatre that first opened in 1945. It has been lovingly restored over the years and shows second-run popular new films as well as old family favorites. This is great for kids and families! Admission is $1–$4.50, and there is a full concession stand that offers bottomless tubs of popcorn for $6. Gift certificates are available at the theater box office or by calling 509-327-2509. For the 21 and over recipients on your list, you can add a gift certificate to Bon Bon, the old-fashioned, hip little bar right next door. For more information on Bon Bon gift certificates, call 509-413-1745 or stop by during business hours (4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.)

Roast House Nutcracker Suite coffee, available only in December

Seriously Good Local Coffee with a Personalized Label

At Spokane’s Roast House Coffee, you can get the coffee lovers on your list excellent local coffee with a personalized label of your choice (up to 10 words) for no extra charge. Roast House purchases, roasts, and markets only organic, shade grown varietals of coffee. All coffee is either Fair Trade certified or ethical direct trade, so you can feel good about buying it. And it tastes amazing! Click here to shop online. Check out the Nutcracker Suite, available only in December. Coffee mugs and canisters are also available to create a gift package. You can also shop the Roast House at 423 East Cleveland Avenue, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Call 509-995-6500 for more information.

A Night Away in a Gorgeous Suite

A perfect gift for your spouse is a night away. You don’t have to go far to get away from everyday life. Stratford Suites is near downtown Spokane as well as Northern Quest Casino and Resort. All rooms are beautifully furnished and feature full kitchens, high-speed Internet, and 50” HDTVs with DVD players. Now through December 31, Stratford Suites is offering a great special: the Shop and Stay package includes a one-night stay and your choice of a $50 gift card to Riverpark Square, Red Robin, or Red Lobster for only $135.00 (package can be used through 2013). Call 509-321-1600 to reserve.

Spokane Chiefs Hockey or Shock Tickets

Give the sports fans on your list tickets to a local Chiefs game. Our team is having an exciting season and currently ranked number 3 in the Western Conference and number 2 in the U.S. Division. Check out the many special promotion nights here. Click here for the season schedule. Buy tickets through TicketsWest.

2013 season tickets for Spokane Shock arena football are as low as $90! Surprise someone on your list with the gift of live, indoor football. The first home game is April 12, 2013. Season ticket holders receive extra benefits, including a free T-shirt, discounts on individual tickets, and first priority for upgrades and playoff tickets. Click here for information on purchasing season tickets.

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Do Your Snow Dance and the Skiing Will Come!

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

I’ll just get the bad news out of the way. The latest snow forecast from AccuWeather.com predicts below normal snowfall for the Northwest. So it probably will not be an epic powder season. The good news is that there are six ski resorts to choose from within three hours of Spokane, and if you don’t feel comfortable betting on a season pass for any individual resort, many offer great deals on smaller ticket packages.

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is less than an hour’s drive from Spokane, which has become a more important feature as gas prices have continued to rise recently. In addition to a terrain park with almost a mile of progression-oriented kickers, hits, and jibs for all skill levels and five chairlifts for 45 runs, Mt. Spokane is known for its plentiful night skiing (50 nights, 16 runs, only $20) and the Children’s Choice Tubing Hill (open on weekends, $10 per 1.5-hour session and free for kids under 42” tall). This year, you can enjoy the newly updated lodge, which now offers 100 more seats, a new deck, and four big screen TVs.

Looking for a deal? Through December 31, you can purchase a stocking stuffer package of three adult lift tickets, four college student lift tickets, or five youth lift tickets for $99. Click here for season pass prices and the special deals you receive at other area resorts with your purchase.

49 Degrees North Terrain Park. Copyright 40 Degrees North Mountain Resort.

Silver Mountain Resort is a wonderful family getaway destination only an hour from Spokane. Skiers and snowboarders will appreciate the two mountains of terrain, with a terrain park and 73 runs to choose from. The mountains average 300” of snow per year. You don’t have to drive up a long, winding road to arrive, but instead are transported from the base village up to the slopes on a scenic, 3-mile gondola ride. Silver Mountain also features a four lane snow tube park. Click here for lift ticket and tubing prices. If you stay at the resort’s Morning Star Lodge, you’ll have access to Idaho’s largest indoor waterpark, which is always a cozy 84 degrees.

49 Degrees North Mountain Resort also averages 300” inches of snow per year. This family friendly resort is about one hour and 45 minutes from Spokane. 49 Degrees North has seven lifts, 82 marked trails, a terrain park, and cross country and snowshoe trails. With a wonderfully easy bunny hill and 30% of its trails appropriate for beginners (40% intermediate, 25% advanced, 5% expert), this is a great place to learn to ski and to bring the whole family. New this season is the opening of the Angel Peak double chairlift to serve the seven runs and nearly 200 acres of glade terrain added three years ago to Angel Peak. Check out the events calendar for fun special days like women’s snowshoe day and a few night skiing sessions. Click here for season ticket prices.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort is one of the largest ski resorts in North America. It’s about two hours from Spokane, near beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. An efficient network of nine lifts service 2900 acres offering 92 trails plus open bowl skiing and three terrain parks. This is a great place for experienced skiers, with 10% beginner, 40% intermediate, 35% advanced, 15% expert terrain.

Night skiing and night tubing (great date idea!) are open Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays for pretty much the whole season. Tubing and zip line rides are also available during the day on weekends. Click here for the schedule. Zip line rides are 700 feet long and offer scenic views of Lake Pend Oreille. You can also enjoy cat skiing and guided snowmobile tours. Average snowfall is 300”. Click here for ticket prices.

Lookout Pass Ski Area is located on the Idaho/Montana border two and a half hours from Spokane. It’s safe to say that this resort will be more insulated from the below average snowfall impact than the resorts listed above. From the Lookout Pass website: “Forest Service and NOAA records confirm that Lookout Pass is blessed with light, dry powder earlier and more often than any region in the state—an average of 400 inches a season! And because our slopes face northeast, all that great snow is protected from wind and weather. Lookout has NEVER closed due to inclement weather!” It has three terrain parks for freestyle snowboarding, including a beginner’s level park and an all-natural park in which all features are made of trees that needed to be cut down. Lookout Pass offers a free ski/snowboard school for kids 6–17 years old on Saturdays from January 12 through March 31. Four chairs serve 34 runs.

Rossland, British Columbia.

Red Mountain Resort is worth the drive to Canada. Three hours from Spokane, Red Mountain Resort is famous for champagne powder (average 300” a year) and incredible gladed tree skiing. New this year, adventurous skiers can take a snowcat ride to the new expansion area, Grey Mountain, for advanced ski experiences on un-groomed slopes and glades. On the other two mountains in the resort’s expansive boundaries, there are six lifts and 88 runs. Five different backcountry peaks are easily accessible from the resort’s boundary.

Just this year, Red Mountain Resort was ranked by POWDER magazine as the number four best resort in North America, by the SBC Resort Guide as the third best terrain in Western Canada, and by Skiing Magazine as the most underrated ski resort. Since it is a bit of a drive, you may want to get a multi-day pass and spend a few days here. The charming, friendly ski-bum town of Rossland is just a few minutes down the highway.

You can save with the Vertical Value Card, available only through December 24. For $55–$79, you get your first, fourth, and seventh days free, plus value pricing on full day tickets for another five visits. Click here for lift ticket prices.

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Fun for All Ages at Valleyfest, September 21—23, 2012

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

This weekend, the City of Spokane Valley will host its biggest celebration of the year, with a parade, hot air balloons, gourmet food and wine tasting, bicycling and running events, live music, and more. Valleyfest began in 1990; its mission “is to showcase the talent that enriches our community and give exposure of the visual and performing arts, education, science, and recreation to those families who might otherwise not have the means to experience them.”

Friday night, bring your family to see the Hearts of Gold parade, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at Sprague Avenue at Appleway Florist and travels east to the Spokane Heritage Museum. The parade will feature lighted floats, mascots, dancers, classic cars, and fire trucks.

CenterPlace Regional Event Center will host several fun activities on Saturday:

Start your day with a pancake breakfast from 7:00 to 10:30 a.m. Volunteers will be preparing and serving a hot breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon, plus your choice of coffee, juice, or milk. The price is $7 for adults, $3 for kids 3–6, and free for kids 2 and under. Click here for a $1 discount coupon!
Parents and expectant parents can attend educational workshops and movies and visit baby-themed exhibitions at BabyFest 2012. BabyFest runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Look at the stars under a roof at the Stargazer Planetarium from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
At Taste of the Valley, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., you can sample regional wines, enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and listen to live music on the patio. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased by Friday.
Valleyfest Car Show will be held on the grass outside CenterPlace. Registration is 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and is $10.00 per vehicle. Lowco’s car club is hosting and judging the event, with awards given at 3:30 p.m.
Throughout the day, the CenterPlace patio stage will offer live music and comedy. Click here for a schedule.

Mirabeau Point Park, located next to the CenterPlace Event Center, will have plenty of fun things to do and see:

The Spokane Astronomical Society will be around all day Saturday to hand out free DVD’s and other prizes and to let people look through telescopes of all different sizes. You can view sunspots and solar flares with special telescope filters, and in the evening, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday, the group will host a night sky viewing. Come see the galaxy and learn what you are looking at in the night sky!
Weather permitting, Balloons over Valleyfest will launch hot air balloons from the park at 6:40 a.m. on Friday. At 5:00 a.m., you can come and view the “Morning Glow” of the lit balloons before takeoff. Saturday and Sunday, the balloons will launch at 6:35 a.m. Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., the lit balloons will be on display for “Night Glow.”
Sunday, bring your bike for the Spokane River Centennial Trail Bike Ride. Meet at the Mirabeau Point Park North Centennial Trail Head at 11:00 a.m. for check-in ($10.00 for ages 11 and over and $5.00 for ages 10 and under). The ride starts at noon, and you can choose from four routes ranging from 6.8 to 15.6 miles. All routes are loops that finish back at Mirabeau Park. Pre-register here.
If walking is more your style, you can register for the Step up for Down Syndrome Walk, which starts Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Discovery Playground at Mirabeau Point Park. Or race in the 5k/10k Run for a Cause on Sunday at 8:30 a.m., which benefits education, research, and advocacy programs for Down Syndrome. Registration for the run is $15 before Sept 20 or $25 if registered after September 20, 2012.
Saturday and Sunday, the Family Stage will feature performers of various kinds, including music and dancing. Click here for a schedule.
The Meadow Festival Stage will also feature live music and dancing Saturday and Sunday. Click here for a schedule.
All weekend long, there are fun activities for the whole family, including toy making, fishing for kids, the Go Green Zone, an Oreo stacking contest for kids, and a free outdoor movie.

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100 Free Concerts at This Year’s Pig Out in the Park August 29–September 3, Riverfront Park

Monday, August 27th, 2012

The Verve Pipe headlines at Pig Out in the Park this year.

Labor day weekend is coming, the last big holiday before kids go back to school and summer officially ends. You could go camping at your favorite lake spot, but let’s face it, camping at a beyond maxed out campground is not really all that fun. On the other hand, music festivals packed with people ARE really fun, and at Pig Out in the Park you can pick and choose from 100 concerts, all free!

The line-up, spread out over three stages, includes some great national acts, including the Verve Pipe (Friday at 9:15 p.m. and Saturday at 12:00 p.m.), the Yardbirds (Saturday at 9:30), JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound (Thursday at 9:00 p.m.), Fishbone (Sunday, 9:30 p.m.), and more. There are just too many don’t-miss local musicians playing over the weekend to mention them all, but a few highlights I recommend are Hot Club of Spokane (Thursday at 8:15 p.m.), Silver Treason, Terrible Buttons (Saturday at 7:15), Cary Fly (Sunday at 7:00 p.m.), and Civilized Animal (Sunday at 7:30 p.m.). Saturday and Sunday at 4:00 p.m., kids can enjoy a roving magic show. Click here for a full schedule of the festival’s entertainment.

Chocolate dipped cheesecake at Pig Out in the Park

While the festival has become known for an incredible array of live music performances, drawing people from all over the Inland Northwest, it’s called Pig Out in the Park for a reason. You will find copious amounts of a wide variety of foods from Navajo fry bread tacos to maple bacon cupcakes. Food booths will offer food from all over the globe—Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Cajun, Native American, Italian, Mediterranean, Mongolian, Southwest, and Indian, plus amazing desserts like chocolate-covered fruit kebobs and huckleberry brownie fudge sundaes. And yes, if you must, have a deep-fried Snicker’s bar or Twinkie. After all, Pig Out in the Park only comes around once a year. I like to go with a food tasting buddy or two, so I can try and share several items for less money. Click here for a helpful list of food vendors with sample menu items to help you plan your indulgence strategy—naturally, the food booth areas are very crowded so knowing where you want to go before you arrive is very helpful! There are also three adult beverage gardens.

Pig Out in the Park runs August 29—September 3 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Riverfront Park, downtown Spokane. Admission to the event and to all entertainment is free. All food items are $9.25 or less. Pets are prohibited from this event. Parking is available in paid lots and at street meters throughout downtown (Sunday, meters are free). Click here for bus schedules if you don’t want to deal with parking!

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Get Away without Going Far: Lakeside Fun at Coeur d’Alene, ID

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

Lake Coeur d’Alene

You don’t need to spend a lot of time and money traveling to far-flung destinations to enjoy a relaxing or adventurous getaway. Coeur d’Alene in the summertime is a wonderful place to visit, and it is just 38 minutes east on I-90 from Spokane. You can either make it a day trip from Spokane or take a few days and stay in the lakeside resort town. If you are staying in Spokane, or want to go to Coeur d’Alene as part of a staycation in the Spokane area, stay at Stratford Suites, located close to the Spokane airport, and enjoy the comfort of an upscale furnished townhouse at an affordable rate. Use the money you might have spent on plane tickets or gas for more play!

You can spend a couple of days just hanging out at the waterfront of Lake Coeur d’ Alene. Play in the water at the sandy city beach, stroll the world’s longest floating boardwalk at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, and hike at Tubbs Hill, a 120-acre waterfront preserve on the downtown waterfront. Board a daily scenic lake cruise or make your own adventure with a kayak, stand-up paddle board, or jet boat/jet ski—all are available to rent.

This city also has excellent shopping, restaurants, wine bars, and art galleries, all located in the very walkable, quaint downtown area.

Coeur d’Alene is situated in a playground of the great outdoors, with great fishing, camping, and hiking very close by. Check the Forest Service website for more information. For whitewater rafting, check out ROW Adventures’ trips on the Wild and Scenic St. Joe River.

The Coeur d'Alene Resort

There are numerous options for lodging, including lakefront vacation rentals, but if you want to treat yourself, the obvious choice is the luxurious Coeur d’Alene Resort. From here, you can walk to the beach and downtown. The hotel houses several fine restaurants and a spa, plus a posh golf course with the world’s only floating green. Summer rates average $199–$499. Click here for package specials that will save you money, especially for families.

If you have kids, or if you like to play like a kid, add a day or two to your trip for Silverwood Theme Park, just minutes north of Coeur d’Alene on Highway 95. This is also a popular day trip destination from Spokane. It’s the Northwest’s largest theme park, with huge roller coasters, water rides, and entertainment. There are two sides to the park—the dry and the wet. Boulder Beach Water Park offers slides, wave pools, and areas just for toddlers and kids. There is a lot to do, and you should expect to spend a full day on either side. Admission is $21.99–$42.99. If you purchase your tickets online, they are a couple of bucks cheaper, and a discount is given for multi-day passes. Costco also sometimes has discount tickets.

For more information to help you plan a vacation in Coeur d’Alene, go to Coeurdalene.org and CDAdowntown.com.

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