DESERT AIRE - Hot Desert Nights, at Desert Aire this Saturday, should really be hot at mid-day.

The drag races, set for noon to 3 p.m. are expecting 150 cars in heads-up competition. For $20 racers will get as many races as desired against the drivers of their choice.

Hot Desert Nights, Desert Aire's annual celebration of the summer sun, is a non-stop one-day party from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

"It just keeps growing," chairman Bob Adler said.

Hot Desert Nights is organized and staged by the Mattawa-Desert Aire Lions Club. Proceeds from the community celebration support the club's charitable work. About $12,000 was raised last year.

One of the big fund raisers is the Hot Desert Nights raffle. It offers several prizes, and tickets will be sold throughout the day. The grand prize is a two-night stay at Desert Winds in Prosser.

Hot Desert Nights will start with the annual golf tournament at 7:30 a.m. at the Desert Aire Golf Course. You may call Bob Carter at 253-208-8444 for details or to enter a team in the four-person scramble. Four slots remain.

The annual drag races are held on the Desert Aire Airport tarmac. There will be one trophy for lowest elapsed time on the one-eighth mile straightaway. Bob Adler, at 509-439-0250, has the details.

There will be a classic car show in the Desert Aire Park from 4-7 p.m. Adler is expecting 150-200 cars.

There will be awards for best street rod, best hot rod and People's Choice. For information on that event, call Val Carter at 253-208-8444.

The annual Hot Desert Nights dinner will be catered by the Smokehouse Grill of Moses Lake.

It will be served in the park pavilion at 5:30 p.m. and will cost $20 per person.

The last event of the day, in the park pavilion right after dinner, will be the Hot Desert Nights dance. It will start at 7 p.m. with music by The Rockadiles.

In special fund raisers, Monte Farkasosky will sell licorice rope at the golf tournament to benefit breast cancer research. Wahluke Girls Soccer will sell hot dogs.