There is no event like Spokane Hoopfest. At this hugely popular annual 3-on-3 street basketball tournament, players of all experience levels and all ages (minimum age requirement for kids is to be entering the third grade in fall of 2011) can compete for the chance to win prizes while experiencing the exhilaration of playing with new people and being a part of a famously fun weekend that includes 14,000 basketball games and over 20,000 players from all over the country. Anyone who wants to play basketball is welcome, from beginners to those who qualify for the 3BA Elite Division, which often features former CBA and European professionals. Prizes are given to winners in each bracket. Games are played on courts set up across forty downtown city blocks.
If you want to play but missed the official deadline, it’s not too late! Registration will remain open as space allows, so go to the Spokane Hoopfest website to sign up before all the spots are taken. If you are not playing, odds are good that you know someone who is. In addition to cheering on your friends and family, you can see concerts and other entertainment, shop, browse booths from local organizations and businesses, watch the Marine Air Slam Dunk Contest, play games for prizes at the kid-friendly Safeco Zone, and enjoy delicious food and drink at the Washington Dental Service Foodfest in the west meadow of Riverfront Park.
Hoopfest is able to run so smoothly because hundreds of volunteer court monitors and other volunteers make it happen. If you are interested in volunteering, submit an application to earn the right to say “I helped run Spokane Hoopfest 2011.”
Spokane Hoopfest is an enormous festival and one of the city’s largest events, so parking downtown will not be easy. A better option is to take the Spokane Transit Hoop Loop. Every ten minutes during the festival, a bus will arrive at each park-and-ride lot to transport people to and from downtown Spokane. At only $1.50 per day to use the system and free parking at the park-and-ride lots, it’s a bargain. Go to the STA website for more information about times and locations.
Coming to Hoopfest from out of town? Watch this blog in the next few weeks for tips on making the most of your stay and saving some time and money!
Carbo-loading will take on a whole new meaning at the Booze Day 2011 pub crawl. The night before Bloomsday, hundreds of people hit the streets of downtown Spokane to race to numerous locally owned bars. Finishers who fill their official Booze Day cards with stamps from all participating pubs receive a commemorative T-shirt. Just like in the big event on Sunday, each racer receives a number card to wear, but, unlike Bloomsday, there really is no reason to hurry, as this event is not timed. Don’t worry, you needn’t have a drink at each location (or any location); it’s enough to just show up. Running shoes are optional, but you might want to wear a costume, as many teams of revelers dress up. Last year, Booze Day costumes included the Village People and wild 80s-themed running outfits.
The fun starts at the Baby Bar (corner of 1st and Lincoln, behind Neato Burrito) at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30. The cost is $15 and includes a T-shirt if you hit all the participating pubs, all located in reasonable walking distance from the start point: Far West Billiards, Dempsey’s Brass Rail, The A-Club, Irv’s, Mootsey’s, and the Baby Bar.
Copyright Lilac Bloomsday Association.
If you haven’t signed up for Bloomsday 2011 yet and wish to do so, you can still register at Bloomsday check-in on Friday, April 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center (334 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard) for $30. The huge trade show at Bloomsday check-in is an event in and of itself, and it is free and open to the public. This is a great opportunity to check out the latest in all things fitness and running, from nutrition and wellness to shoes and clothing. Bloomsday participants must stop by to check in and pick up their numbers.
It may not feel like it with recent snow flurries and hail in parts of Spokane, but spring really is here. There are always plenty of beautiful, sunny days in the spring to get outside, and there are plenty of indoor great spring events for the not-so-pleasant days. Here are a few fun things to do in the Spokane area this season.
Race with 50,000 of Your Closest Friends at Bloomsday, May 1
If you want to register for the huge footrace/festival in downtown Spokane known as Bloomsday, which winds through some beautiful scenery, you can register online through April 17 ($15 plus an online processing fee of $1.49) or you can register by mail by April 12 using a Bloomsday form, available at numerous locations. If you miss those deadlines, you still have the opportunity to register late for $30 at Bloomsday check-in on Friday, April 29 from 11:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 30 from 9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The race is open to runners, walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, and assisted wheelchairs. If you’d rather get in on the fun without actually walking or running 7.46 miles, stake out a place to watch early in the morning, or just go walk around and hang out downtown and in Riverfront Park, soaking up the festive atmosphere and enjoying the on-site entertainment.
Visit the River in Full Glory
Spokane River during the very high water spring of 2008. Posted by John Davies on ADVrider.com.
A simple pleasure for Spokane residents, the river that runs through the heart of our city never fails to impress visitors. During the spring, the Spokane River swells with runoff, and water rises to its highest point all year, creating an incredible sight of roaring, rushing water. Photographers are frequently seen with tripods at various viewing points, trying to catch the perfect Spokane River shot. Riverside State Park, especially around the Bowl and Pitcher area, is a beautiful natural environment to view the river in. Although many hiking areas are still muddy during the spring, there are plenty of great places to walk along and view the river that are paved. Riverfront Park downtown offers plenty of paved trails and walking bridges to view the falls area, and you can easily make a day out of it with an IMAX movie, a ride on the Spokane Falls Skyride, and a go–around on the historic Looff Carousel. The paved Spokane River Centennial Trail follows the river from the Idaho state line to Nine Mile Falls and also makes for a scenic spring bike ride. Or, you can pack a picnic lunch and head to one of the many Spokane parks that are right on the river. Click here for a map of the city park system.
If you like browsing antique shops, here is a show that is the equivalent of dozens of antique shops put together, with over 300 dealers from all over the U.S. to answer your questions and chat with you about the joy of collecting really old stuff. The 75,000 square feet of merchandise will be on display at the Spokane Fair & Expo Center (corner of Broadway & Havana) Friday through Sunday, April 29–May 1. Admission is $6 for the entire weekend, and parking is free. Appraisers will be on hand Saturday and Sunday to put a price on your treasures; the $5 per item fee benefits the MAC Museum.
Spring Barrel Tasting, May 6–8 On Mother’s Day weekend, all 17 of the Spokane Winery Association wineries open their doors to the public to celebrate the traditional end of one winemaking season and the beginning of another. You can sample new and current vintages, talk to the winemakers, and enjoy the company of other wine lovers at this fun and popular event. Some of the wineries will even offer samples of wine still in the wine-making process, directly from barrels or tanks. The wineries will offer snacks, and many will be featuring food and wine specials. Reasonable tasting fees may apply; tasting fees are usually credited to a wine bottle purchase. Plan your trip with a map of the wineries. Tasting hours are Friday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Northwest’s largest theme park, located on Highway 95 just minutes north of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, opens May 7. While the Boulder Beach Water Park does not open until June 4, spring is a great time to experience the rides and attractions of Silverwood with less crowds and less time spent waiting in line. The rainy season usually clears up in May, and there will be plenty of sunny, warm days that are perfect for screaming on roller coasters. General admission is $41.99 for adults and $21.99 for ages 3–7 and 65+, so if you pay general admission and plan on going to the park at least four times this year, you will save by purchasing a season pass for $139.99, which also gives you free parking, additional discounts, and the ability to load up your card with money and use it anywhere in the park. A tip for spring Silverwood visits: as the weather can be unpredictable, bring an extra change of clothes in the car so you have something to change into if being soaked by Thunder Canyon leaves you cold.
Gardening is a favorite spring activity for many Spokane area residents, and this is your chance to meet other gardeners, check out the newest and coolest plants, and learn tips and techniques for all kinds of gardening, including indoor gardens and organic practices. The Inland Empire Gardeners host the fair, which has over 250 booths, a lecture series, door prizes, and children’s activities. If you are new or just interested in starting to grow plants at all, don’t be intimidated, as this show focuses on “real gardens, by real people” and “down-to-earth ideas that inspire rather than intimidate.” The Spokane Garden Expo is May 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Spokane Community College Lair, 1810 N. Green St. Admission and parking are free!
It’s time for Bloomsday participants to get ready for the 35th running of the famous downtown Spokane, Washington foot race. You can register online through April 17 ($15 plus an online processing fee of $1.49) or you can register by mail by April 12 using a Bloomsday form, available at numerous locations including area Safeway stores, Washington Trust Bank branches, and Sports Authority. The race is open to runners, walkers, strollers, wheelchairs, and assisted wheelchairs. Each year, over 50,000 people, from parents pushing babies in strollers to some of the most elite runners in the world, converge on Spokane for this huge event.
One of the best parts about Bloomsday is listening to all the bands who play along the route. In honor of the 35th year of Bloomsday, there will be more performers along the 7.5 mile route, an increase to 35 from 29, and prizes will be awarded to the 35th, 350th, 3,500th, and 35,000th finishers.
If you would like a little help becoming motivated and physically prepared for the race, you can attend free weekly clinics by Providence-Group Health. The clinics begin on Saturday, March 12 and take place at 8:30 a.m. on seven consecutive Saturdays, with the final one on April 23rd, a week before Bloomsday. You will meet at the Spokane Falls Community College gym, where a personal trainer will provide expert training tips and a warm-up session, followed by an at-your-own-pace training course that will be longer each week. To sign up, you can go to the Providence website to download a form or register online.
This year, you can also log your training miles and get encouragement from other runners and walkers by signing up for the Bloomsday challenge by Step Up Spokane, which will give you a schedule to follow based on how many miles you want to go each week.
Bloomsday could not exist without the help of volunteers. If you are interested in helping out this year, go to the website for information.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs Women’s Basketball team plays their last two home conference games this week, after already claiming their seventh straight West Coast Conference (WCC) regular season title with a 103-59 victory over the University of San Francisco. The team, which just made No. 23 in the USA Today ESPN Top 25 Coaches’ Poll this week, is currently an impressive 24-4 overall and 12-0 WCC.
Thursday, the Bulldogs will play the second-place team in the WCC, St. Mary’s College Gaels. Saturday, the last game of the season, will be against the University of San Diego Toreros. The Zags do not intend to rest on their laurels by any means: senior point guard Courtney Vandersloot wrote in her “Talking Hoops with ‘Sloot” blog “we want to make sure that we continue to hold the momentum going into the WCC tournament. We take pride on keeping what our future holds in our hands rather than in the hands of the NCAA committee. We want to control our own destiny and we do that by winning the tournament.”
Vandersloot was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week on Monday, her fourth WCC Player of the Week honor this season and the twelfth of her career. She has been named one of the top twenty candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, the nation’s most coveted college basketball honor. She leads the nation in assists per game and became the first player since 1995 and the fourth overall player to pass out 1,000 assists when she handed out nine in Gonzaga’s 73-59 win over Pepperdine University on February 13.
If you want to catch this amazing team live, tickets can be purchased through TicketsWest at 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com, any TicketsWest outlet, and the McCarthey Athletic Center Ticket Office. Thursday’s game offers specials for participants in Spokane’s mentoring programs, community youth organizations, and Dads/daughters.
The biggest New Year’s Eve party around happens in downtown Spokane. For just $12, you can experience an incredible array of arts and entertainment, topped off with a big fireworks show at midnight. The theme for this year’s First Night Spokane is “Imagine That.”
If you haven’t been to a First Night celebration before, you can’t miss Spokane’s tenth annual bash. Where else can you see community theatre, dance to a live swing band, go ice skating, ride a 100-year-old carousel, watch several dance performances, laugh at live improve comedy, take some dancing lessons, watch artists do things like pottery wheel throwing, marvel at the stunts of a snowboard rail jam, and listen to African drumming all in one night for just $12? There are just too many activities and performers to try listing even the highlights here, but you can download a schedule.
First Night celebrations are all about celebrating arts and entertainment in a family friendly, affordable festival. The entire family can find dozens of things to do, with plenty of kids’ activities. The event is alcohol-free, although adults are welcome to pop into the many local bars and restaurants that will be open nearby for a drink, and you don’t have to worry about any of the content being inappropriate for kids. To get in on the fun, just purchase a button for $12 ($15 on December 31) at one of many Spokane businesses, including Cenex Zip Trip Stores, Auntie’s Book Store, Riverfront Park Square (concierge desk), and Windemere real estate offices. Out-of-town visitors can purchase buttons with no fees through TicketsWest. Go to the First Night Spokane website for details.
Attend a Hometown Hockey Game
Looking for a night that is a bit more exciting and noisy than a dinner and movie? Come out and support the Spokane Chiefs. You can’t help but get caught up in the enthusiasm of the Chiefs’ Pacific Northwest fans. The Spokane Chiefs, who have won two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 and 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 and 2008, and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000, and 2008, are a Major Junior Hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Players come from all over the world and many are drafted into the pro ranks from the Chiefs. Home games are played in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, a 10,366 seat facility. Click here for a season schedule. Adult tickets range from $10–$19 and can be purchased by calling 509-535-PUCK (7825) or from TicketsWest at 800-325-SEAT (7328), or by purchasing online through TicketsWest.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Spokane Civic Theatre. Copyright 2010 Northern Exposures Photography
Enjoy Local Talent in Great Theatre
Impress your date with play tickets and experience an evening of live entertainment while supporting local artists. Spokane boasts two major theatre companies: Interplayers Professional Theatre and Spokane Civic Theatre. Ticket prices for theatre in Spokane are substantially lower than other major cities, so take advantage of our big-city quality for small-town prices!
Interplayers, Spokane’s award-winning professional theatre, is producing two plays this winter. Opus, a new play by Michael Hollinger that has enjoyed immense popularity nationwide, showcases the story of a string quartet that fires its violist and replaces him with a young woman days before a White House performance. It runs January 20–February 5, 2011. Privilege, a heartfelt comedy about the privileged lives of two Upper East Side NY teens whose lives are irrevocably changed when their father is accused of insider trading, runs February 24–March 12, 2011. Tickets are available by calling 455-PLAY (7529). You can also purchase tickets through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT (7328) or www.TicketsWest.com. Prices range from $13–$22.
Spokane Civic Theatre is a national award-winning community theatre. This winter, you can see three plays performed by the troupe. Don’t Dress for Dinner is a riotous farce about a dinner in which marital bliss is not on the menu, and between the friends, lovers, caterers, and angry husbands, comic confusion abounds. This production runs January 14–30, 2011. Next, the Civic will perform the Tony-Award wining musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a tale of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. The show runs January 28—February 7, 2011. The next show is another musical comedy: Nunsense, running February 18–March 6, 2011 and featuring an unforgettable variety show performed by the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 325-2507 or through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT (7328) or www.TicketsWest.com. Prices range from $16–$32.
Copyright Spokane International Film Festival
Spokane International Film Festival, February 3–13, 2011
If you love independent and cutting-edge films, you can’t miss SpIFF. This is your once-a-year opportunity to see the very best feature films, documentaries, and short films that have been made around the world during the past two years but have not yet been commercially released for wide distribution right here in Spokane, WA. Some of the films might never be released on DVD in the United States, so this could be your only opportunity to enjoy some of the most talked-about films. They are the same films as those seen each year at the Cannes, New York, or Toronto film festivals.
But you won’t just see great new films from all over, you’ll also meet some of the filmmakers and performers. They share their own stories and anecdotes about the making of their films and answer questions from you the audience. The discussions are lively and educational and a favorite part of the festival for both filmmaker and audience. You can also take part in after-film receptions held throughout downtown Spokane.
Twice a year, Spokane museums, galleries, arts businesses, and alternative spaces for showing art such as non-profit organizations, restaurants, and shops welcome the public in to view a wide variety of great regional art. Participating businesses extend their hours on Friday night, February 4th, and open up on Saturday, February 5th to support the arts scene in Spokane. Like First Friday Art Walks in downtown Spokane, the Visual Arts Tour is a self-guided walking tour (pick up a free copy of The Inlander, available at many area businesses on February 3rd, for your guide), but it is a much larger event. Come check out local art, meet artists, and enjoy treats and beverages provided by participating businesses.
When the temperature drops, do you prefer to head indoors or bundle up and play in the snow? Whether you like to hit the slopes or limit your exposure to the cold to trips from the car to another heated location, Spokane offers plenty to do and see.
On winter afternoons and evenings, adults and children alike of all ability levels walk through Spokane’s beloved Riverfront Park to enjoy one of the best outdoor ice skating rinks in the nation. You will see kids skating around with friends, skating students practicing spins and other figure skating moves in the center of the ice, couples holding hands, and very often a few pairs of smiling young people on first dates (this is a great first date). The Riverfront Park Ice Palace is open every day except Monday through February 27. The rink is covered, housed under the big pavilion area. Skate rental is available. See the website for times and prices.
If you are on the North side of town, you can ice skate at Eagles Ice Arena, an indoor rink just off Francis at 6321 N. Addison, open year-round.
Very conveniently located, just 28 miles from downtown Spokane, plus cheap ($15 round trip) bus service from Spokane on weekends and holidays
Forty nights of skiing, more night skiing than any other local resort
The Mt. Spokane State Park, which the resort is located in, also offers gorgeous cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, so non-skiers can have fun, too
The most you will ever pay for a daily lift ticket is $45 (weekend adult)
Children’s Choice Tubing Hill offers inexpensive day and night tube sledding with a rope tow for sledders of all ages
Great deal for beginners: EZ Ski or Ride 1-2-3 packages that include three lessons, three ski or snowboard rentals, and three lift tickets for just $109
Terrain Park for all levels of skiers and riders with rails, boxes, hits, and more
Free “mountain hosts” program features guided tours by experts to show newcomers around the mountain
Scenic: from the top, you can gaze at three mountain ranges, Canada, and three states
Cat skiing and snowboarding available through terrain varying from open 20–30% slopes to steeper, old-growth forested terrain and glacier-carved open bowls
Located in British Columbia’s famed “powder triangle,” with some of the best champagne powder in the world
Voted “Best Powder, Best Steeps, Best Trees” by Ski Canada Magazine and ranked “one of North America’s top ten expert resorts” by Forbes Traveler
Easy backcountry access to five back country peaks, plus cat and heli skiing and snowboarding available
Adult lift tickets are $64; consecutive days are less
Mt. Spokane State Park. Copyright 2010 Washington State Parks
Free or Nearly Free Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Opportunities
With this winter predicted to deliver above-normal snowfall to the Inland Northwest, you can count on great conditions for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the Spokane area. Below are some of the locals’ favorite spots. If you don’t already own snowshoes or Nordic skis, you can rent them from REI. Some locations require Sno-Park permits or a park entrance fee, so check before you go.
Mt. Spokane State Park is a cross country skier’s paradise, with 300 inches of snow per year on average and 25 kilometers of groomed trails. There are also plenty of trails that are excellent for challenging, deep powder snowshoeing.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is beloved by snowshoers and cross country skiers of all abilities. It is mostly flat and open, a landscape of channeled scablands, wetlands, and small lakes. There are plenty of trails to follow, or you can just make your own way.
Columbia Plateau Trail: Easily accessible from Cheney, WA, Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is a 130-mile-long rail-bed trail that traces the 1908 original path of the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railroad. The level, mostly flat trail is currently open from Cheney to Lincoln County. It is not as scenic as the parks mentioned above, but it is easy and perfect for families. Strong snowshoers might be bored by this one as there are no good hills or opportunities for exploring off trail.
Centennial Trail: The Spokane Centennial Trail is connected to the North Idaho Centennial Trail for 60 miles of paved cross country skiing and snowshoeing possibilities. There are access points all along the trail; just pick the kind of scenery you want to enjoy! One great place to snowshoe if you are in town and want a quick getaway to nature is the section of trail behind Spokane Falls Community College. You can park at the Military Cemetery trailhead located just off Government Way to access this portion of trail in Riverside State Park.
Eagle Watching at Lake Coeur d’Alene
In December and January, you can seize a rare opportunity to watch bald eagles just off shore in lovely Wolf Lodge Bay, in Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. This is due to the kokanee salmon of the lake spawning and dying starting in November, providing a plentiful source of food for the eagles. Thousands of people brave the bitter cold for this regional tradition of viewing the majestic raptors feeding and just generally looking impressive while sitting on a branch or pole. It doesn’t cost a thing; just bring warm clothes, a thermos of hot cocoa, and your binoculars. Click here for a brief article with tips on viewing. To get there, take US-90 east from Coeur d’Alene for eight miles to Wolf Lodge Bay (exit 22), then south on Highway 97 for three miles.
During Coeur d’Alene Eagle Watch Week, from December 26 through January 1, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management will be on hand at the Mineral Ridge Boat Launch and Mineral Ridge Trailhead, located in Wolf Lodge Bay, to teach about and assist you in observing the bald eagles. Educational displays and telescopes will be set up for the public to enjoy.
If you prefer to watch the eagles from the water, you can go to the Coeur d’Alene Resort to board a cruise ship. The ships go to isolated quiet bays where you can observe our national symbol in its natural habitat. Reservations are required, and tickets are $19.75 for adults, $17.75 for senior citizens, $11.75 for children ages 6–12, and free for children 5 and under. Go to the Coeur d’Alene Resort website or call 800-688-5253 or 208-765-2300 ext. 21 for more information and to register. If you are hungry when you come back, try one of the resort’s excellent restaurants.
Travel Spokane is a website built to inform Spokane visitors about the latest news, events, and opportunities in Spokane. This information is provided free courtesy of Stratford Suites. If you are looking for Spokane hotels be sure to check out our website at www.stratfordsuites.com
There is no event like Spokane Hoopfest. At this hugely popular annual 3-on-3 street basketball tournament, players of all experience levels and all ages (minimum age requirement for kids is to be entering the third grade in fall of 2011) can compete for the chance to win prizes while experiencing the exhilaration of playing with new people and being a part of a famously fun weekend that includes 14,000 basketball games and over 20,000 players from all over the country. Anyone who wants to play basketball is welcome, from beginners to those who qualify for the 3BA Elite Division, which often features former CBA and European professionals. Prizes are given to winners in each bracket. Games are played on courts set up across forty downtown city blocks.
Hoopfest is able to run so smoothly because hundreds of volunteer court monitors and other volunteers make it happen. If you are interested in volunteering, submit an application to earn the right to say “I helped run Spokane Hoopfest 2011.”![[del.icio.us]](http://www.travel-spokane.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
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