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Get Ready for Spring at Custer’s Home and Yard, Arts and Crafts Shows

Friday, February 22nd, 2013

Spring is almost here! Now is the time to start dreaming and planning for home and yard improvement projects. At the 35^th annual Spokane Home and Yard Show, you can see hundreds of displays and demonstrations to inspire you. Some of Spokane’s best landscapers will be on hand to answer questions and show the latest products and services. The show will be held February 28–March 3 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. Parking is free, and adult admission is $7 for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are free. Hours are noon–9:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Thursday only, adult admission is buy one get one free.

Once you have figured out what you want to do to your house and yard this spring, come back to the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center for Custer’s 36^th annual Spring Arts and Crafts Show to pick up a hand-crafted bird house, metal sculpture, fountain, or wall hanging. You can find myriad arts and crafts items from over 300 professional artists from around the U.S., including gourmet food items, hand-painted furniture, pottery, unique jewelry and clothing pieces, nature photography, and more. With over 78,000 square feet of exhibit space, this is the largest show of its kind in the Inland Northwest. This show runs March 8–10. Hours are Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults for the entire weekend; children 12 and under are free. Parking is free.

If you are traveling to town for either of these shows, check out Stratford Suites’ beautiful rooms and great rates. All rooms offer fully equipped kitchens and 50” HDTVs. The convenient location is just minutes from the airport and downtown Spokane.

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Tags: arts and crafts, home and yard show, home improvement, Spokane arts and crafts show, Spokane home and yard show

Rodeo, Rides, and Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Spokane County Interstate Fair, September 7–16

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

The Spokane County Fair starts Friday, an annual tradition that offers the opportunity for city folk to see farm animals, kids of all ages to catch the thrill of high-speed carnival rides, and cowboys and cowgirls to strut their stuff in an arena full of people. Everyone has their own favorite, must-see feature of the Spokane County Fair, whether it’s the bunnies, the racing pigs, the demolition derby, or the freakishly huge pumpkins. Share your favorite Fair experience in the comment field at the end of this story! Below are some of the major highlights at this year’s Fair to help you plan your visit. Click here to see detailed lists of daily events.

Highlights

Butler Amusements Carnival: The main carnival opens at 3:00 p.m. Monday–Thursday and noon on Friday–Sunday. The Kiddyland carnival for the younger set opens at noon each day. Rides can either be paid for by tickets ($1 per ticket; each ride takes 3–5 tickets) or a pay-one-price bracelet, which is available for $30 and is good for one day. On September 10–13, the pay-one-price bracelet is discounted to $25. The county’s website does not specify what time the carnival closes, so it’s probably safe to assume it closes at 10:30 (8:30 on September 16) when the main buildings close for the night.
Steam and Gas Area: This is where you can see what life was like on the farm before modern conveniences like electricity and maybe exaggerate the difficulties of your own childhood to your kids. Antique tractors and other equipment are on display, and the Inland Empire Railway Historical Society’s Museum and train rides will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Throughout each day, demos will be performed of old-fashioned bread making, rope making, butter churning, a portable mill, a spinning wheel, and more. Check daily schedules for times.
Home Arts/Fine Arts: Come to Bay 3 and Bay 4 to see the work of local artists and beautiful flower exhibits. You can also see demos of different crafts, like water color painting, needlepoint, and card making. Click here for daily schedules.
Copyright Year of Plenty

Animals! Many kinds of cows, beautiful varieties of chickens, cute rabbits, friendly horses, and talkative pigs. This is your chance to see them all, and maybe ask their owners questions if they happen to be around. Important note: if you or anyone in your family has their heart set on seeing a particular animal exhibit, check the daily schedules for the notes on top about days when some animals are going home or are otherwise unavailable—explaining to a 5-year-old that the bunnies are “just not here today” is a conversation no one wants to have.
PRCA Rodeo (September 7 and 8, 7:00 p.m.): Events include bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping. Tickets are available at TicketsWest.com, 1-800-325-7328, or at the Fair and Expo Center office and cost $5–$7, plus the price of fair admission.
Concerts and Shows: Headliners this year include Wylie and the Wild West Show, Jake Owen, Huey Lewis and the News, Styx, and Blues Traveler. Monster truck shows and a demolition derby are September 15 and 16. Tickets for concerts and shows range from $5 to $30 plus the cost of Fair admission and are available at Ticketswest.com, 1-800-325-7328, or at the Fair office. All these shows are at the Grandstand, but additional, free shows will run throughout the fair on the North Stage.

The Spokane County Interstate Fair runs September 7–16 at the fairgrounds, 404 N. Havana St. Parking is free. Admission each day is $7 for ages 7–13 and 65+, $10 for adults, and free for kids 6 and under. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. except September 16, when the fair will close at 8:30 p.m.

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Pick Your Own Fruit, Enjoy Live Music, and More at Green Bluff Farms!

Saturday, June 30th, 2012

Castle and maze at Siemers Farm

Fresh fruit, directly from the growers, is far superior in taste and quality to anything you will find in your local supermarket. At Green Bluff, about 15 minutes north of Spokane in the foothills of Mt. Spokane, you can even pick your own fruit if you want to. Two loops of farms (East and West loops) offer a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, farm products, candy, and fun things to do for the whole family. The views are spectacular, and you can see for miles on a clear day. During festivals, there are live bands, country cooking, hay rides, corn mazes, and more. Hours vary by farms, but most farms are open on weekends. Click here for a map of the farms and links to information for each farm.

You don’t need a plan to enjoy Green Bluff. You can just show up and poke around the different farms. Each farm has its own charms. But here are a few highlights if you want to plan your visit!

High Country Orchard Country Store is a great place to pick up a variety of produce from the area farms, especially if you are in a hurry and don’t have time to visit several farms or to pick your own. They also feature gifts, collectibles, and décor, plus the tasty Bistro Grill.

The Strawberry Celebration is June 30–July 1 and July 7–8. This is when the strawberries at Green Bluff are at their peak. Bring the whole family and pick your own strawberries, or purchase strawberries and strawberry-laden foods ready to go.

Walter’s Fruit Ranch offers tours by appointment with “Farmer Mark” on the Fruit Loop Express for all ages. Tours include a stop to pick fruit, time to browse the gift shop, and a piece of Walter’s fruit pie. Call 509-238-4709 to schedule.

Hidden Acres, Green Bluff’s only bio-diesel run farm, operates a petting zoo. During the festivals, the farm also offers narrated hayrides, a tepee, corn maze, and live music. Call 509-238-2830 before you come up to find out what’s happening.

Townshend Cellar makes excellent Washington wine. Stop by the tasting room and gift shop to try distinctive reds (you must try the T3!), dry whites, riesling, late harvest, ports, and huckleberry wines while enjoying beautiful views on the bluff. Tasting hours are Friday through Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Call 509-238-1400 for more information.

Fleur de Provence Lavender Farm

Stroll through the fields and savor the heavenly scent of lavenders at Fleur de Provence Lavender Farm. You can pick your own lavender bouquet or purchase essential oil, soap, wreaths, sachets, and more. The farm opens July 6 on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closes for the season August 4.

The Cherry Festival is July 14–15 and July 21–22. Bring the family and pick your own cherries, run in the Cherry Picker’s Trot, listen to live music, and enjoy delicious food.

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Do Something Extraordinary for Mom This Mother’s Day! Fun Spokane Mother’s Day Outings

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Mother’s Day Tour of the Rockwood Historical District

On May 12 or 13, 12–4 p.m., take Mom on a walking tour of six houses in the historic Rockwood neighborhood on Spokane’s south hill. The 23^rd annual MAC (Museum of Arts and Culture) Mother’s Day Tour is presented by the Historic Preservation Committee of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture. The nationally renowned Olmsted Brothers landscape architects designed the layout of this distinctive neighborhood. It is home to a variety of architectural styles from the first half of the 20th century. Architectural styles bridge the gap between the waning days of Spokane’s “Age of Elegance” and the new generation of designers and builders who left their imprint on Spokane’s built environment during the 1930s and 1940s. Tickets on sale now at MAC Admissions (Wednesday–Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and during the tour weekend (12–4 p.m.) at two of the houses on display: 527 E. Rockwood Blvd and 2105 S. Rockwood Blvd. Tickets are $12 for MAC members and $18 for non-members.

Mother’s Day Raft

Get your adrenaline rushing with a rafting trip on the lower Spokane River! Think of it as a great mother/child/partner/sibling bonding opportunity. For just $99 for two people (each additional person is $49), Spokane Parks and Recreation will take you and a special Mom you love (provided you are both at least 16 years old) on a memorable float on Sunday, May 13, 2–4 p.m. Register here and do it soon because there are only ten spots available!

Spokane Winery Association Spring Release Weekend Take Mom on a tasting tour of Spokane’s many excellent wineries. For winemakers, spring is a time of celebration that typically marks the end of the winemaking season and the start of a new wine year. On Mother’s Day weekend, all 19 (yes, Spokane has 19 wineries!) Spokane Winery Association members, plus the Cougar Crest tasting room and Nectar wine bar open their doors and invite people to sample new wines along with current vintages and talk to wine experts. Every knowledge level is welcome; this is not a snobbish wine event! Hours are 12–6 p.m., May 11–13. Most wineries charge a $5 tasting fee, which is generally credited toward any bottle of wine that you like enough to take home. My family takes Mom to this every year and it is always a blast, even for Dad, who doesn’t really care for wine. See you there!

Take Her Out to the Theatre for Mother’s Day!

Mothers are often too busy to enjoy the pleasures of going out to a nice show. Treat her to a live play performance for Mother’s Day. Interplayers Professional Theatre is showing a comedy called Taking Steps through May 20 (no show on Mother’s Day Sunday but there are performances Wednesday through Saturday before Mother’s Day). Click here or call the box office at 509-455-7529 for tickets, which are $15–$24. Spokane Civic Theatre is showing “Premier!,” a comedy written by the author of Man of La Mancha and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest through June 3. Click here or call the box office at 509-325-2507 for tickets. All tickets are $19.

Listen to Your Mother Spokane Live Reading

In honor of Mother’s Day, local mothers who write and publish online will take the stage and read on Sunday, May 13, 7:00 p.m., at the Bing Crosby Theatre. Listen to Your Mother is a national series of live readings directed, produced, and performed by local communities. Tickets are $12 through TicketsWest or $15 at the door (cash only).

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Get that Antique Appraised before You Sell It in the Yard Sale: Appraisal Days at Custer’s Spring Antique and Collector’s Sale, April 20–22

Friday, April 20th, 2012

This weekend, you have a chance to find out what those antiques you’ve been keeping are really worth. At Custer’s 37^th annual Spring Antique and Collector’s Sale, experts will be on hand to appraise your hand carried items (no firearms or musical instruments; for large items, just bring photos that show detail), so you can decide to keep, toss, or sell your collectibles. The MAC Appraisal Days runs Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. The fee for each item appraised is $7 and benefits the MAC Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Bonus: everyone who has an item appraised will receive a 2-for-1 admission coupon for the MAC! Since the price of adult admission for the MAC is the same as the appraisal fee ($7), it’s like getting one item appraised free.

Plan to arrive early as appraisals are first come, first served. There is a limit of five items per person. In order to have your items appraised, you must pay admission to the Spring Antique and Collector’s Sale ($6 for adults all weekend long, kids 12 and under free, free parking), the largest indoor antique and collector’s sale in the Inland Northwest. Over 200 dealers participate, and there are thousands of vintage pieces in all price ranges to choose from, including kitchenware, industrial, jewelry, furniture, primitives, rustic garden, elegant glass, shabby chic, prints, and retro items. Show hours are Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The appraisers will only be on hand Saturday and Sunday, but as your admission is good all weekend, you can browse the show on Friday and come back Saturday or Sunday to have your items appraised.

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Sixty New Things to Do This Year at the Spokane Country Interstate Fair! September 9–18, 2011

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

If you think you have already seen all there is to see at the fair, you’ll be happy to know that the Spokane County Interstate Fair has come up with 60 new attractions to mark its 60^thsilver anniversary at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. Here are just five of the most compelling:

Bedazzle Your Bra Competition: Come to Bay 3 to view entries in this new competition of creatively decorated bras. This exhibit is put on by the Home Arts Department and the Susan G. Kohmen Foundation to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Goat Cart Rides: Ramona Mather and her goat Casper will give kids rides in the Goat Barn!

Dancing Horses: On Friday, September 16, at 2:15 p.m., watch members of Spokane County 4-H perform a dressage exhibition in the Horse Arena.

QR Code Barn Tours for Smart Phones: If you have a smartphone, you can scan a code at the entrance to each barn for a self-guided tour, which will make looking at livestock much more interesting! It’s sponsored by Big R. Stores, and you will receive a Big R. 15% off coupon for participating.

Not-So-Newlywed Contest: Tuesday, September 13, at 1:15 p.m., couples pre-selected through an essay competition will play for a grand prize at the North Stage. Play along in the audience to find out how well you know your partner!

As always, you can count on fun shows at the Grandstand: PRCA rodeos Friday and Saturday nights (September 10 and 11), compact car demolition derby and lawn mower races Sunday, September 11, two monster truck shows on the second Saturday (September 17), full-size car demolition derby on the second Sunday (September 18), and five great acts during the week: Neal McCoy, Osmond Brothers, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Switchfoot. Tickets are available at the Interstate Fair Office or at Ticketswest.com. General admission to the Fair is required for all shows.

The North Stage features a wide variety of free entertainment throughout the Fair, including regional and local musicians, comedy, hypnotism, juggling, and dancing. There are many other free entertainment events each day, such as racing pigs, kids pedal tractor racing, and demonstrations of “how it used to be” (butter churning, rope making, etc.) Click here for a complete day-by-day schedule of all that is happening.

General admission to the Fair is required for all shows. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for kids 7 to 13 and seniors 65 and over, and free for kids 6 and under. If, for you, going to the Fair means having a blast on the carnival rides, consider going on September 12–15, when you can buy a pay-one-price bracelet for $25, good for unlimited rides all night. Otherwise, each ride is $3–$5 in single carnival tickets. Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day except September 18, when this year’s big event will wrap up at 8:00 p.m. Parking is available at the Main Gate and South Gate. If you are travelling from out of town to play at the Fair, do yourself a favor and book a comfortable one- or two-bedroom suite at Stratford Suites Hotel, Spokane’s best lodging value! Full kitchens, leather furniture, pillow top mattresses, and 50” HDTV with DVD await you.

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Party at the Farm! Tis the Season for Green Bluff

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Thorson’s Country Farm and Nursery

You don’t have to go far from the city to experience some good old fashioned farm fun. Just 20 minutes north of Spokane, at Green Bluff, you can pick your own delicious peaches, apples, and other produce in season (or buy them already harvested), take a free wagon ride, taste local wine, listen to live music, have a picnic with lunch and snack items from one of several places, tour some farms, and entertain the kids at numerous play areas. The scenic area is at the foothills of Mt. Spokane.

If you haven’t tasted just-picked Green Bluff peaches and apples, you are in for a treat! Local, farm fresh produce is a world away from the usual grocery store fare and may inspire you to try new recipes and cooking methods. A great website with recipes for natural, healthy cooking that really highlights farm fresh food is At My Kitchen Table. Pictures with the steps make the recipes easy to follow.

The Green Bluff Growers, founded in 1902, is an association of small farms and food stands. In two driving loops, you can visit over 30 farms and stands with an abundance of locally grown and manufactured food. In addition to extremely fresh fruits and vegetable, you will find gifts, alpaca yarn and wool goods, frozen Italian meals, candy, honey, jams, pies, and much more.

Each farm is a little different, and food and entertainment offerings vary by season. Although many farms are open on weekdays, most of the entertainment only happens on weekends. Some farms are closed on Sundays. Check the website to see what is happening at each farm. There are several big festivals at Green Bluff—currently, farmers are celebrating the August Peach Festival on weekends through Labor Day as it is prime soft fruit season. Next up is the September Apple Harvest Festival, when you can pick up some of the best chunky applesauce and fresh pressed apple cider you’ll ever taste. In the fall, pumpkin picking and corn mazes are always popular, and you can even come back for a Christmas tree in the winter. A Sanctuary Bed and Breakfast, on 11 wooded acres at the gateway to Green Bluff, offers the option of a retreat without travelling far from Spokane.

Parking is available and free; expect the roads to be crowded on weekends, but with over 30 farms, lines are generally short. Click here for directions. Green Bluff is great for anyone who loves fresh food, and it is a great family outing, with plenty for kids to do. Each farm sets its own hours; check the farm locator page for details. Click here for a map that shows what each farm offers.

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Come Join the Street Party at Spokane’s Earth Day Event April 23, 2011

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Earth Day is officially Friday, April 27, but the big party starts on Saturday at 11 a.m. in downtown Spokane. Main Street will be closed off between Browne and Division to allow Spokane residents and visitors to celebrate our beautiful planet and green living until midnight. The day’s events are definitely family friendly. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., kids can enjoy free activities like vegetable planting and marching in the Procession of the Species parade (parade is at 2 p.m., and kids will make their own fun animal masks to wear beforehand). Youngsters can also collect special “passports” that will be stamped for visiting different animal themed activity booths.

If you want to start celebrating earlier in the morning and feel good about doing something for the nature in and around Spokane, join the Earth Day Spokane River Clean Up sponsored by 96.9 the River, Friends of the Centennial Trail, and the Spokane Riverkeeper. Meet at Mission Park at 8 a.m. (across from Avista on Mission Ave.) Treats, coffee, and trash bags will be provided.

All ages will enjoy the live performances of music, dance, and poetry. Malidoma World Dance studio will be performing traditional dances, the Hoop Troup will make hula hooping tricks look ridiculously easy, and several bands will perform, including the Angela Marie Project, B Radicals, and the Brad Keeler Trio. Local community leaders, among them Mayor Mary Verner and Councilman Richard Rush, will give blissfully brief talks as well. If you have a thing or two to say or sing yourself, sign up for the open mic on Isabella’s rooftop. All day long, you can browse interesting community booths with information and activities on sustainability, and of course there will be delicious street food.

In the evening, stick around to see flaming hula hoop performances and show your moves at an electronic dance party located in the Community Building warehouse (ages 16+). Bands will continue to rock the outdoor stage until midnight. Admission is free; come for just a little while or stay all day, but don’t miss Earth Day Spokane 2011!

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