Senior events for December 2025
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months AGO
The 30th Moses Lake Ag Appreciation Parade and Street Party will take over downtown Moses Lake Friday
FILE PHOTO
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. | December 3, 2025 1:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — The weather outside may be frightful, but the holiday events this month make the chill in the air a little more bearable. Here are some opportunities to get out and about in December:
Dec. 3
Royal Intermediate School Holiday Bazaar
Gifts, crafts, arts, treats and a visit from Santa. 4:30-7 p.m. at Royal Intermediate School, 6261 Road 12 SW, Royal City. Info: 509-346-2226.
Dec. 4
Classical Sounds of the Season
Classical selections for cello and piano by Kevin Hekmatpanah and Yoon-Wha Rhoh of the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra, followed by a holiday sing-along. Sponsored by Central Basin Community Concert Association. 7 p.m. at the Big Bend Community College Wallenstien Theater, 6989 College Parkway NE, Moses Lake. Info and tickets: www.CommunityConcertsML.com.
Dec. 5
30th Moses Lake Ag Appreciation Parade and Street Party
Music and food, as well as photos with Santa, followed by a parade with trucks and farm equipment decked out in bright lights. Street party begins at 5 p.m., parade at 7 p.m. at Sinkiuse Square, Moses Lake. Info: www.downtownmoseslake.org.
Dec. 6
Winter Holiday Bazaar
Find Christmas treasures for yourself or as gifts. 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Community Church of Ephrata, 54 K St. SE. Info: 509-754-6130.
Merry Market and Tree Festival
The Moses Lake Farmers Market and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake combine Habitat’s Festival of Trees with a holiday market. Stroll through decorated trees and have photos with Santa, while exploring the market’s gifts and goodies. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-237-2100.
Handmade & Vintage Christmas Market at CCS
Handcrafted items from students and vintage finds from Pieces by Parrott, plus holiday-themed treats from the Associated Student Body. Proceeds go toward the school’s greenhouse fund. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Covenant Christian School, 1001 N. Grape Drive, Moses Lake. Info: 509-431-1879.
Winterfest
Holiday bazaar, library book sale, turkey bingo, hot coffee and cocoa. The fun starts at 10 a.m., and Santa will make his appearance at 4 p.m. in downtown Soap Lake. Info: www.soaplakecoc.com.
A Christmas Miracle on Main Street
This year’s theme is “Christmas in the Country,” so grab your cowboy boots and get ready for a festive, family-friendly celebration. Food vendors, craft vendors, petting zoo, reindeer experience and more, followed by a parade and tree lighting. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. at Othello City Hall, 500 E. Main St. Info: 509-331-6768.
Lake City Blues
Live unplugged music from the iconic Moses Lake blues band. Bring a friend or two and a pair of dancing shoes. Snacks, beer and wine available. 6:30 p.m. at Camas Cove Cellars, 911 S. Camas Place, Moses Lake. Info: 509-750-4193.
Dec. 7
Community Christmas Concert
Quincy Valley Allied Arts Community Choir and Orchestra presents favorites of the season. Free admission with an item for the Quincy Food Bank. 6 p.m. at Quincy High School Performing Arts Center, 403 Jackrabbit St. Info: quincy-valley-allied-arts.org.
Dec. 11
Kids Hope Bingo Night
Support Kids Hope with a basket raffle and bingo. Tickets $5. 6 p.m. at Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
Dec. 12
H.E. Gritman Senior Center Fundraising Breakfast
Enjoy a homemade breakfast of pancakes and sausage or biscuits and gravy and sausage. Cost is $7 and all ages are welcome. All proceeds go to support the activities at the Senior Center. 7-10 a.m. at 118 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 509-659-1921.
‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’
The children of Mars are watching too much Earthling TV, so their elders kidnap Santa Claus in this 1964 campy classic film. Pre-film activities include a graham cracker house building station, cosmic iceball toss and more. Ugly sweaters encouraged. Free for the whole family. Presented by Columbia Basin Allied Arts. Activities begin at 6 p.m., movie begins at 7 p.m. at Moses Lake Civic Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: www.cba-arts.org.
Celtic Christmas Celebration
Violinist Geoffrey Castle’s “Celtic Christmas” program will feature the Geoffrey Castle Celtic Band, Irish tenor Dan Connolly, singer Emily McIntosh, bagpiper Don Scobie and the Seattle Irish Dance Company. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-514-3849. 7 p.m. at the Wallenstien Theater, 6989 College Parkway NE, on the Big Bend Community College campus. Info: www.ChristmasInWashington.com.
Dec. 13
Bells on Basin
Ephrata pulls out the stops for this community holiday celebration, starting with breakfast with Santa and finishing with a lighted Christmas parade. Activities for children and adults throughout the day. Sponsored by the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce. 509-717-0050.
Dec. 14
Marlin Handbell Choir
Experience the enchanting sound of 100 English handbells, bringing beloved holiday classics to life. The concert will conclude with a fun sing-along, inviting all to join in the festive cheer. Don’t miss this special holiday experience – perfect for family and friends to enjoy together. Admission is by donation. Cookie decorating at 1 p.m., concert begins at 3 p.m. at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency. Info: www.georgecommunityhall.com.
Ladies Christmas Tea
Theme is “A Weary World Rejoices.” Appetizers, tea, and good conversation. Guest speaker is Pastor Bridget Bern of Spokane Bethel Church of the Nazarene. All ladies welcome. RSVP by Dec. 3 to [email protected]. 4:30 p.m. at Moses Lake Nazarene Church, 422 S. Balsam St. Info: 509-765-4343.
Dec. 17
Bingo
Cards cost 25 cents each for each game played and all money is put back into the game prizes. 2-3:30 p.m. at H.E. Gritman Senior Center, 118 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 509-659-1921.
Create & Cackle
Do you like to make stuff? Do you have an unfinished project? Want to just hang out and finish a project? Just drop in, have a drink and a snack and create. Knitting, drawing, sewing, crocheting, perler beading, coloring, painting, origami or basket-weaving – the only limit is what you bring. Bring your own project and drinks/snacks and hang out with like-minded individuals. 6 p.m. at The Main Event, 116 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 843-323-2218.
Dec. 18
Movie Night: ‘Overboard’
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell star in a hit comedy of amnesia, revenge and romance. 2 p.m. at Ephrata Senior Center, 124 C Street NW. Info: 509-754-2382.
Singo
Singo is a new and exciting musical spin on the traditional game of Bingo. Instead of listening for a number, players are listening to their favorite music. Each player receives a free Singo card printed with the titles of popular songs. While Singo randomly plays song clips, players can sing along and mark matching song titles on their cards. The first player to mark five songs in a row and to shout “Singo” wins the round. Admission is free and prizes will be awarded. 6 p.m. at the Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
Dec. 21
Do you have toys and books taking up space at your house, or need gifts for children because money is tight? Volunteers from Moses Lake Nazarene Church will get them set up and ready for families to “shop” for the perfect gift for their children at no cost. Gifts should be in ready-to-use condition. Church members will supply cocoa, cookies and some gift-wrapping supplies. Toys can be dropped off 2-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday at Moses Lake Nazarene Church, 422 S. Balsam St., until the day of the swap. 3-6 p.m. at U Rock Ranch, 465 Road T NE Warden. Info: 509-765-4343 or moseslakenazarene.org.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.