Holiday cheer around the Basin
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 1 month AGO
A Grant Transit Authority bus dashes through the snow at the 2022 Moses Lake Ag Parade. This year’s event is Dec. 1.
FILE PHOTO
An excited family waits for Santa to make an appearance at last year’s Winterfest in Soap Lake. This year’s event is Dec. 2.
The Grinch sits in an orange Grant County Jail jumpsuit on the back of the GCSO’s paddy wagon as part of last year’s Bells on Basin parade in Ephrata. Bells on Basin returns Dec. 9.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | November 22, 2023 1:30 AM
MOSES LAKE — Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down just about every main drag in the Columbia Basin. Many local communities will hold holiday celebrations over the next couple of weekends. Here are some places to load up on Christmas joy:
Winterfest
Soap Lake will hold Winterfest on Dec. 2. The fun starts at 10 a.m. with a holiday bazaar at the Soap Lake Community Center, 121 Second Ave. SE, offering crafts, food, jewelry and more, and a book sale at the Soap Lake Public Library, 32 Main Ave. E. Turkey bingo will be held at noon at the Del-Red pub, 311 Main Ave. E. Coffee and hot cocoa will be served at 3 p.m. at McKay Healthcare & Rehabilitation, 127 Second Avenue SW, and caroling will begin at 5 p.m. Santa will make an appearance at 4 p.m. at Marina Drive and Main Avenue for photos with children. More information is available from the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce, [email protected].
An excited family waits for Santa to make an appearance at last year’s Winterfest in Soap Lake. This year’s event is Dec. 2.Bells on Basin
Ephrata will celebrate Bells on Basin on Dec. 9, including a 5K or 1-mile run at 9 a.m. and Polar Express passports at 10 a.m. at the Ephrata Recreation Center, 121 Alder St. SW. Hot cocoa and popcorn will be served free at 4 p.m., followed by the tree lighting and live music at 4:45 and the Bells on Basin Parade at 5. The event is sponsored by the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce, www.ephratachamber.org.
The Grinch sits in an orange Grant County Jail jumpsuit on the back of the GCSO’s paddy wagon as part of last year’s Bells on Basin parade in Ephrata. Bells on Basin returns Dec. 9.Quincy Valley Christmas
This Quincy holiday celebration will take place Dec. 1-3: The Christmas Light Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. Friday on Division Street in the Cenex parking lot and finish at the Port of Quincy, 101 F St. SW, for photos with Santa. There will also be a walk-through living Nativity 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum, 415 F St. SW. Saturday there will be a Christmas Market 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Quincy Public Market, 1004 F St. SW, and the Festival of Trees at 6 p.m. at the Quincy Business & Event Center, 111 F St. SW. Sunday the Quincy Valley Allied Arts Community Choir will offer its concert at 6 p.m. at Quincy High School, 403 Jackrabbit St. More information is available from the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce, 509-787-2140.
Ag Parade
Moses Lake’s annual Ag Parade and Street Party will be Dec. 1 at Sinkiuse Square. The party begins at 5 p.m. with music and free french fries and hot chocolate, as well as a Santa sleigh for family photos. At 7 p.m. the parade will roll down Third Avenue with trucks and farm equipment decked out in bright lights. The event is organized by the Downtown Moses Lake Association, www.downtownmoseslake.org.
Wanapum Heritage
The Wanapum Heritage Center, at Priest Rapids Dam near Mattawa, will host Shop till you Drop this Saturday and Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be live demonstrations of beadwork, tule mats, weaving and hemp string, as well as a variety of local and traveling artists offering unique handmade arts and crafts. More information is available by calling 509-766-3461.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
New home, new life
Looking back at pet adoptions in 2025
MOSES LAKE — 2025 turned out to be a good year for some pets, and some humans as well. Here are a few of the critters that found forever homes at local shelters this year.
Home team
Hayden Homes employees collect more than a ton of food for local food banks
MOSES LAKE — Hayden Homes, and its partner company Simplicity by Hayden Homes, went a step beyond their mission of affordable housing this month, with donations to organizations across the Northwest fighting food insecurity. Especially at this time of the year, it becomes more in the spotlight to think about families out there that are struggling,” said Rees Wasney, regional vice president of Hayden Homes in the Tri-Cities. “It’s a tough time.” Hayden Homes chipped in $66,000 to 15 nonprofits across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Western Montana, according to an announcement from the company. In addition, the Hayden team amassed more than 2,500 pounds of non-perishable food for local food banks.
Nazarene Church toy swap brings needed Christmas joy
WARDEN — The Moses Lake Nazarene Church’s toy swap was scheduled for two hours Sunday afternoon, but it didn’t last nearly that long. “People were lined up from one o’clock on,” said Kaleigh Sullivan, who organized the event.