The annual Spokane Lilac Festival will celebrate its diamond anniversary next month with a number of fun events. This community celebration of the city and our armed forces is family friendly and includes activities for all ages, including a car show, golf tournament, parades, and more.
On Saturday, May 11, you can come support Spokane area kids by cheering them on during the Junior Lilac parade, which starts at 10 a.m. on Washington Street in downtown Spokane. School bands and drill teams as well as youth clubs will perform and march. Local mascot celebrities, city and county officials, and local businesses also take part. After the parade, head over to River Park Square to view the Lilac shoe box floats. You can also do some shopping (check out the brand new Sephora store!) and pick up some lunch at the food court or one of the restaurants inside the mall.
If a day of golf is more your style, then sign up for the Armed Forces Appreciation Golf Tournament on May 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s 5-star course. This will be scramble format with teams of 4. Cost is $90 per person, and registration ends May 3.
Thursday, May 16, you can hear Police Chief Frank Straub speak at the All City Civic Military Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. at the Davenport Grand Pennington Ballroom. Tickets are $35 or $425 for a table sponsorship. Register by clicking here. On the evening of May 16, the Pages of Harmony barbershop chorus will perform the Diamond Anniversary Men’s Chorus Spring Show at the Bing Crosby Theater. If you miss this show, you can also catch them on Saturday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m. in Riverfront Park.
The Festival culminates on Saturday, May 18, with the Cruzin’ the Falls Car Show and Cruise at 10:00 a.m. at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Howard and the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, which begins at 7:45 p.m. To register your car in the car show, click here. The beautiful torchlight parade features lighted, colorful floats, dancing teams, high school bands, and more. Arrive early to stake out a spot to watch, or you can reserve bleacher seats here for $15.
1976 Lilac Festival parade.
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the festival, the Spokesman Review and the Spokane Lilac Festival Association have put together an heirloom quality coffee table book with nearly 300 photos capturing the essence of the festival from its beginnings in 1938 through the diamond anniversary this year. If you order it at this link, the Spokane Lilac Festival will receive $6 from the sale of each book.
Spokane’s biggest annual literary event, the Get Lit! Festival, has been bringing nationally recognized authors to Spokane and spotlighting local and regional authors since 1998. The week-long festival packs in poetry slams, readings, panel discussions, and workshops for readers of diverse interests and all ages. All events except headliner acts are free. Click here for a full schedule. Here are a few don’t-miss selections:
Ode is an original play based on one of the greatest true love stories in the history of literature, the romance between English poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, which was cut short by tragic events. The play was written by celebrated poet and EWU professor Jonathan Johnson.
April 9, 7:30 p.m., University Theatre in the Fine Arts complex of the EWU Cheney Campus. Located on Washington Street between Sutton Park and the football field. Free.
Author of over 100 book-length publications, from novels to plays, Joyce Carol Oates has won countless awards and accolades. Her most beloved works include the bestsellers Blonde and We Were the Mulvaneys, and the National Book Award-winner them. Joining her will be Jaimy Gordon, author of Bogeywoman and the National Book Award-winning novel Lord of Misrule. David Shields will read from his latest nonfiction work, How Literature Saved My Life. Book signing to follow.
April 12, 7:00 p.m., Bing Crosby Theatre, 901 W. Sprague. Tickets are $15. Click here to purchase.
Jonathan Evison is the author of All About Lulu and the New York Times bestseller West of Here. His latest novel is The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving. Pulitzer Prize-finalist Kim Barnes will read from her most recent novel, In the Kingdom of Men. Q&A and signing to follow.
April 11, 7:00 p.m., Bing Crosby Theatre, 901 W. Sprague. Tickets are $15. Click here to purchase.
This is always one of the highlights of the Get Lit! Festival for anyone who enjoys poetry. The “salon” originated in 18th century France as an informal gathering where people discussed literature, art, and philosophy. Six poets will read and hold an informal discussion about art and craft, moderated by EWU professor and poet Jonathan Johnson. The participating poets are Gerard Beirne, Cecelia Hagen, John Hodgen, Stephanie Lenox, Maxine Scates, and Carolyne Wright.
April 12, 9:00 p.m., Rocket Bakery, 1325 W. 1st Ave. Free.
Are you ready for the 37th annual Bloomsday race? If not, you still have time to register and to train. Bloomsday is an annual 12 K (7.46 miles) footrace open to all runners, walkers, wheelchairs, assisted wheelchairs, and strollers. It is held on the first Sunday in May (May 5 this year) on a scenic route that begins in downtown Spokane. Click here to view the course. From elite world class athletes competing for the top prizes to parents slowly pushing strollers and stopping for ice cream at Doyle’s on the way, people come from all over for this exciting event. It is more than a race; it is seven miles of live bands along the course (plus the SpoCon sci-fi masquerade!) with 48,000 or so participants making it to the finish line. Many people create fun, unofficial teams or wear costumes, so there is plenty to look at to distract yourself from the physical exertion. New this year, online registrants can sign up to have their results broadcast to Facebook, Twitter, and mobile phones as soon as they cross the finish line. Also new this year, the Fit for Bloomsday program will distribute trading cards, including Spaghetti Betty (carbo-loader extraordinaire) and Doomsday Hill-Billy (always inclined to run), at the Bloomsday tradeshow (May 3 and 4 at the Spokane Convention Center).
Young racers with SpoCon sci-fi masqueraders.
Register here through April 21. Cost is $17 plus $1.69 online processing fee. Late registration is available through April 28 and costs $35 plus a $3.49 online processing fee. You can also register in person at Sports Authority stores until April 16 or by mail (must be postmarked by April 16). Mail forms are available at Washington Trust banks, Safeway stores, Franz/Snyder’s Bakery Outlets, Holy Family and Sacred Heart hospitals, and most running stores. Free clinics hosted by Providence and Group Health to prepare for Bloomsday start this weekend. You can sign up here.
Spring is almost here! Now is the time to start dreaming and planning for home and yard improvement projects. At the 35th 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 36th 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.
The main football season ended with the Superbowl on February 3, but football fans need not despair. Spokane Shock arena football begins soon! Sunday, March 10, get warmed up with the pre-season Orange and White scrimmage game. The first home game is April 12 against the Arizona Rattlers. Click here for a season schedule.
Head Coach Andy Olson feels confident that this year’s team can make it to the championship: “We have 17 returners . . . Everybody just knows more, where as last year everyone was so young. We can really get rolling fast,” Olson said. To improve discipline, this year’s practices will be much more competitive, structured, and efficient. New this year, a conditioning test will be required at the start of the season. If the players don’t pass, they don’t practice, and if they don’t practice, they don’t play. Olson described it as a warning for the players and a way to set a high standard that he hopes to carry throughout the whole season.
Returning players that fans will recognize include receiver Adron Tennell, who set franchise records in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and points last season; Terrance Sanders, who was named first-team AFL kick return and second-team defensive back; former Eastern Washington University quarterback Erik Meyer; and AFL vet Chris Pino.
If you aren’t familiar with arena football, it is played on an indoor field. The Spokane Shock is a member of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.
Individual game tickets can be purchased beginning in March online at TicketsWest.com, by calling 1-800-325-SEAT, or in person at the Spokane Arena box office or any TicketsWest outlet. Season tickets, available now, are a great value and start at just $90.
There are myriad ways to celebrate with your sweetheart beyond dinner and a box of chocolates. Here is your inspiration guide—five fabulous ideas for a fun, memorable date.
Couples’ Massage
Enjoy a relaxing, side-by-side massage treatment that will leave you both feeling good. Northern Quest Resort and Casino’s La Rive Spa in Airway Heights has two couples options, one that includes a candlelight, in-room massage in your suite if you stay there, and one that provides massages for two in a private room. Call 509-481-6108 to book an appointment.
Wine, cookies, and chocolate? Yes, please! Saturday and Sunday, February 9 and 10, Spokane Winery Association wineries will be open from noon to 6:00 p.m. for wine tasting paired with sweets. You can also enter to win another great date—Spokane Symphony tickets—at all locations. Many wineries will offer discount specials for this event, so you can buy some great wine for celebrating again on February 14. Click here for a map of wineries. Tasting fees apply and are usually applicable to a wine purchase.
Date Pass at Riverfront Park
Get the new Date Pass from Riverfront Park and play in the park with someone special. For only $30 per couple, you will enjoy ice skating, mini-golf, and a beautiful Sky Ride over the Spokane River. The pass is good on Saturdays and Sundays through March 3. Walking through the snowy park and taking in river views are free and fun activities to complete your date.
Pick up a new, romantic hobby to do with your partner! Simply Dance Studio in downtown Spokane makes it easy to try out new dances, and they offer social dances for couples to practice their new steps. Saturday night salsa is an especially good choice for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Learn steps during a lesson at 8:15, then dance the night away until 1:00 a.m. Or if swing is more your style, come to a lesson at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, followed by open dancing until 11:00 p.m. Check the calendar for schedules.
Photo in the LeDuc Benefit Show at the Liberty Building.
The first Friday of every month, downtown Spokane galleries and a handful of galleries in other Spokane neighborhoods stay open late to host receptions for a wide variety of art exhibits. But twice a year, this fun monthly art walk is something bigger—the Spokane Visual Arts Tour, one of the biggest nights of the year for art in Spokane. Galleries, wineries, stores, bars, and restaurants showcase excellent artists from around the region. Many venues offer light refreshments, and admission to everything is free! Add dinner at one of the many delicious local restaurants downtown, and you have the makings of a great date night, family outing, or evening out with friends. There are over 30 locations for the event. Most are open from 5–9 p.m. Click here for a schedule. You can download a walking map of downtown here. Here are a few of the larger exhibits featuring multiple artists you won’t want to miss.
Chase Gallery in City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Explorations 13 is comprised of a wide variety of media from some of the best college-age artists in the region, drawn from five area colleges. Light refreshments will be served, and the band Canned Music will play.
The LeDuc Benefit Show will benefit the family of Gabby LeDuc, a 6-year-old artist-in-the-making who is undergoing treatments for leukemia. Works on display and for sale include sculpture by Richard Warrington, paintings by Kirsten Stobie, Kathleen Secrest, Bill Werle, Benjamin Grant, Owl Jones, and Christina Deubel, photography by Schindler Photography, and more. Check out more than 12 artists displaying on four floors with live music 5:30–8:00.
Kress Gallery (3rd level, Riverpark Square), 808 W. Main Ave.
A Child’s Eye from West to East features the work of Japanese students age 6–12 of the Nishinomiya UNESCO Association through a Sister City relationship with Spokane’s school district. Ensembles from the Spokane Public Schools presented by First Night Spokane Rising Stars, 5:30–7:30.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
The exact dates have not been announced yet, but in the second half of September, the 4th 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
Travel Spokane is a website built to inform Spokane visitors about the latest news, events, and opportunities in Spokane. The information is provided free courtesy of Stratford Suites. If you are looking for a Spokane Hotel be sure to check out our website at www.stratfordsuites.com
The annual Spokane Lilac Festival will celebrate its diamond anniversary next month with a number of fun events. This community celebration of the city and our armed forces is family friendly and includes activities for all ages, including a car show, golf tournament, parades, and more.
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