 |
For nearly two decades now, Peggy Doering has been part of the community celebration known as Valleyfest.
When the event began as a neighborhood festival in 1990, it was held on the grounds of Terrace View Park with a few dozen booths propped up in the shade of towering pine trees. The agenda began with a morning parade and wrapped up by sundown.
These days, Doering serves as executive chair, coordinating a three-day schedule that has turned into a regional happening attended by over 40,000 people. Doering’s capable support staff includes Valleyfest veterans like co-chair Mary Farley who has been on board since the beginning. A group of five sales staff helps secure sponsorships and raise funds for a budget that verges near $120,000.
Doering said this year’s program – which includes new features like a hot air balloon rally, literacy outreach and a tribute to the International Year of the Potato – “is not something that will fit on a flyer or in a 30-second TV ad.”
Despite the expansion of Valleyfest, Doering emphasizes that the character of the free celebration is still intact.
“The event has really grown, but we’re still a community festival,” Doering said.
“I think it will be like last year where people quickly realize that a couple of hours won’t cut it. You have to spend some time here.”
The proceedings begin on Friday night at 7 with the Hearts of Gold Parade down Sprague Avenue. The parade dates back to before World War II, but was put on hiatus for decades before being brought back in 2004, the same year Valleyfest moved from Terrace View to Mirabeau Point Park. This year’s procession will feature floats from towns like Fairfield and Tekoa as well as the marching band from West Valley High School. Doering said over 100 entries will participate in the one-mile route from Pines to University.
“The parade is the lead-off to the event,” Doering said. “It sets the tone for the festival.”
On Saturday morning, hot air balloons from throughout the region will take off from the Spokane Valley Industrial Park on Sullivan at 6:45, soaring over the Valley before landing at Mirabeau Point Park around 8:30 a.m., just in time for a pancake breakfast at nearby CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point which runs from 8 to 11.
At 9 a.m. the “Run for a Cause” will take place on the Centennial Trail. Participants can sign up for a 5K or 10K run with a percentage of the $10 registration fee benefiting the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank. T-shirts will be distributed to the first 100 runners.
Activities at Mirabeau Point Park get underway at 10 a.m., with live music on the Meadow Festival Stage. Doering said this year’s entertainment lineup – which features the salsa sounds of Milonga, the country rhythms of the Sammy Eubanks Band and the soulful harmonies of Curtis Salgado, among others – is the “best Valleyfest has ever showcased.”
Senior activities, including a dance with swing music from 2 to 4 p.m., will take place at CenterPlace, the home of the Spokane Valley Senior Center. The venue will also be the site of Valleyfest’s only ticketed event – an art auction at 5 p.m.
Loggingfest is back again this year, spotlighting an array of timber sports. The competition will run through the day on Saturday with the finals scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Doering said she expects over 160 booths on the park grounds, featuring everything from martial arts to arts and crafts. Some 70 nonprofit organizations will be represented. Along with the typical array of carnival food, the Washington Potato Commission is donating 3,000 potatoes to celebrate the International Year of the Potato. Proceeds from the sale of the spuds will go toward social service programs at Spokane Valley Partners.
The emphasis on literacy – scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – will include the distribution of free books and appearances by special guest readers.
A Valleyfest program, outlining the agenda for Saturday and Sunday, will be distributed at Mirabeau Point Park. A Spokane Transit Authority bus shuttle will also run both days from the Spokane Valley Mall. For more information, call the Valleyfest office at 922-3299 or visit www.valleyfest.org.
|
|
By
Craig Howard
