Sunday, November 08, 2026
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VROOM into 2024

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 8 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | March 12, 2024 1:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — As spring pulls up and shows its face in the beams of our headlights, there are loads of car shows coming to the Columbia Basin over the next few months.

Car aficionados can polish their valve covers, get their cameras ready and head out to take a look at streets full of classic sedans, antique vehicles, street rods, rat rods, lowriders, modern mods, trucks, motorcycles and much more at car shows throughout the rest of the year. 


May 23 & 24

Moses Lake

Moses Lake Spring Festival Car Show

Drivers with cool rides line up on Third Avenue outside Frontier Middle School, a show that draws cars of almost every description. That burnt orange sedan with gold rims and velvet seats? It’s here. That lowrider with a hydraulic system so wild it sits at about 45 degrees? It’s here. A 1934 sedan that’s been lowered to a street rod? It’s — well, you get the picture. 

More information: www.springfestivalinmoseslake.com


June 8

Wilson Creek 

Little Big Show

All drivers are invited to show off their rides on Main Street in downtown Wilson Creek. The Little Big Show attracts muscle cars, rat rods, hot rods, trucks, classic sedans, contemporary cars and everything in between. The population of Wilson Creek rolls out the red carpet for guests and has other events such as a quilt show and live music to coincide with the car show. 

More information: [email protected]


July

Ephrata

Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Show and Shine, Anything with Wheels

The organizers really mean anything with wheels, from bicycles and golf carts to trucks and cars to toy cars and tractors. Organizers give out a long list of awards, from coolest car to best tractor, from the kids choice to the vehicle most likely to be pulled over. A firm date hasn’t been announced yet, but keeping an eye on the chamber’s website will keep you in the loop.

More information: www.ephratachamber.org


Aug. 31 & Sept. 1

Warden

Warden Community Days Car Show

Warden City Park

The car show is part of the annual Community Days celebration. Drivers are invited to enter any and every car and truck they choose. Date is subject to change, but the event usually occurs on Labor Day weekend.

More information: www.wardencommunitydays.com


August 13 & 14

Moses Lake

Agri-Service Demolition Derby

Grant County Fairgrounds

3953 Airway Dr. NE

Two nights of racing that are part of the annual Grant County Fair. In fact cars do crash into each other — what’s a demo derby without some collisions? Scheduled events include car and truck time trials, the powder puff race, Australian pursuit, the small car demo, figure 8 race, 1980s demo and winners races. 

More information: www.moseslakeroundup.com


September

Quincy 

Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day car show

The car show is one of many events at Quincy's annual town celebration. Cars come from all over Eastern Washington and sometimes further afield — Corvettes, Bel-Aires, Subarus, works in progress, and more. 

www.quincyfcad.org


September 28

Umani Festival

Moses Lake

The Umani Festival highlights the many cultures of Latin America, and the many contributions people from Latin America have made to the United States. Cars that highlight Latin culture are featured, but all cool cars are invited.

More information: www.cba-arts.org.


Have a show to add to this list? We’d love to include it. Email details to Cheryl Schweizer at [email protected]. Make sure to include the date of the event, website and contact information for the organizers.

    The action gets fast and fierce at the annual Agri-Service Demolition Derby in Moses Lake.
 
 
    A rat rod brought a big smile to the face of a spectator at the Anything with Wheels car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle show in Ephrata.
 
 


ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Power lines, dam upgrades headline Grant PUD capital plans
November 6, 2026 2 a.m.

Power lines, dam upgrades headline Grant PUD capital plans

QUINCY — The Grant County Public Utility District is projected to spend about $118.6 million on a multi-year project to build additional transmission lines from Wanapum Dam to Quincy, about $103.3 million to finish a new maintenance facility in Ephrata. Those are the two largest projects outlined in the PUD's proposed 2027 budget.

Income and priorities subject of Ephrata budget discussion
November 6, 2026 2 a.m.

Income and priorities subject of Ephrata budget discussion

EPHRATA — Balancing requests and revenues, what can and should be done in 2027 and what can wait was the subject of a budget discussion at the Ephrata City Council meeting Wednesday.

GCFD 8 firefighter sustains minor injuries when hit by car
November 5, 2026 12:08 p.m.

GCFD 8 firefighter sustains minor injuries when hit by car

MATTAWA — A Grant County Fire District 8 officer sustained minor injuries Wednesday when he was hit by a driver subsequently arrested for DUI. Battalion Chief Doug Anderson and GCFD 8 crews were on the scene of a non-injury collision at about 10:30 p.m. when a car drove through the crash scene, according to a media release from the Grant County Sheriff's Office. The driver, Jorge Ramirez Suarez, 33, Mattawa, allegedly drove through the crash scene, hit Anderson in the leg, and kept going without stopping, according to the GCSO. He was subsequently booked into the Grant County Adult Correctional Facility on suspicion of DUI, vehicular assault and hit-and-run. Anderson was treated at the scene. He joined GCFD 8 in 1998 as a volunteer firefighter, said Barb Davis, the district's business manager, and is still a volunteer. He has served as a GCFD 8 captain, assistant chief and interim chief, as well as battalion chief.