MOSES LAKE — It’s time to break out the leisure suits, bell-bottoms and – for the very brave – platform shoes next Wednesday for the 11th annual Senior Picnic. 

This year’s theme is “Peace, Love & Party, ’60s and ’70s,” according to an announcement from the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. Attendees are welcome to dress accordingly, said Chamber Director Debbie Doran-Martinez. 

“People can dress up crazy and have a good time with it,” she said. “Disco, tie-dye, hippie, you name it.” 

Of course, there’s no reason folks can’t come any way they like. About 800 people, seniors and others, turned out for last year’s picnic. About 35 exhibitors of all kinds – 16 more than last year – were signed up as of June 2, and there was room for a few more, Doran-Martinez said. 

The picnic takes place in the 4-H and Commercial buildings at the Grant County Fairgrounds. There’s a golf cart shuttle for folks who don’t want to make the walk from the parking lot to the buildings, Doran-Martinez said.  

“As they pull in (to the parking lot) they can let the tent (at the entrance) know they’re going to need assistance and the golf cart will follow them to their parking spot and pick them up so they don’t tire out just walking to the event,” she said. 

The picnic starts at 10 a.m. with a flag ceremony, an invocation and a welcome to acknowledge the sponsors. Lunch will be served at noon, and will consist of all-American picnic fare, Doran-Martinez said: hot dogs, baked beans, salad. The various senior living facilities among the sponsors make up the lunch in their kitchens, she said, each taking a dish so it’s not too much for everyone. 

“We try to get all the food distributed within 30 minutes from start to finish so nobody’s waiting forever,” Doran-Martinez said.  

After lunch, seniors and their companions can browse among the various exhibitors and enjoy music and dancing. Live music will be provided by the Moses Lake band Cheyenne. 

There will also be door prizes, Doran-Martinez said.  

“However many vendors we have, we ask all of them to bring a door prize that we give out to the seniors,” she said. “We have runners so that the seniors don't have to get up and go to the front of the building and take the prizes to the winners, because that's a big building when it's full.” 

The picnic is free for anyone 55 and older, according to the Chamber’s announcement, and seniors are welcome to bring a chaperone, caregiver or other companion. The charge for the companion is only $5. 

Any seniors in the Columbia Basin are welcome, Doran-Martinez said; it’s not just for Moses Lake. 

“The ultimate goal is to recognize them, honor them, and make sure that they're aware of all the resources geared towards seniors to help them financially or to make their lives easier,” she said. We want to bring all of those vendors together to answer any questions they might have. You know the old adage, ‘You don't know what you don't know.’ So, we want to make sure that they're aware of all the things out there to make their quality of life better.” 

Senior Picnic 

Moses Lake 

Grant County Fairgrounds 

Wednesday, June 11 

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Lunch is served at a previous Moses Lake Senior Picnic, provided by several senior living facilities in the area.
  

    Attendees check out the results from the photo booth at last year’s senior picnic.