BASIN EVENTS: April 3-11, 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 2 weeks AGO
Missoula Children’s Theater will lead a cast of local children in a musical production of “Red Riding Hood” April 6-11.
COURTESY PHOTO/U.S. AIR FORCE/SR. AIRMAN ZADE VADNAIS
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. | April 3, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s finally spring, and fun things to do are popping up all over the Basin. Here are a few options.
April 3
Summer Wood Yard Sale
Spend a morning browsing, finding treasures, and supporting something meaningful. From handmade items to unique finds, every table has a story behind it. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Summer Wood Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, 830 NW Sunburst Court, Moses Lake. Info: 509-764-1900.
H.E. Gritman Senior Center Bake Sale
Delicious home-baked items just in time for Easter. Arrive early for the best selection. All proceeds support the Senior Center lunch program and other activities. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or until sold out at 118 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 509-659-1921.
‘Zootopia 2’
Free showing of animated family-friendly movie. Bring your favorite treats to enjoy during the movie; just remember to tidy up before you leave. 1 p.m. at Quincy Public Library, 208 Central Ave. S. Info: 509-787-2359.
April 4
Spring Fling
Say goodbye to winter and hello to fresh finds. Local artisans, handcrafted gifts, fresh baked goods and farm-fresh produce. Presented by the Moses Lake Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds Commercial Building, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-237-2100.
April 6
Mobile Market
Free drive-thru for fresh and nonperishable items. No appointment or paperwork needed – just come by if you need a hand. Limited to 250 families. Provided by Second Harvest Tri-Cities. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Othello High School, 340 S. Seventh Ave. Info: 2-harvest.org.
April 6-11
Spring Break Theater Camp
Missoula Children’s Theater leads a cast of local children in a musical production of Red Riding Hood.” Auditions 3-7 p.m. Monday, rehearsals 3-7:15 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, performances 3 and 6 p.m. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts. Saturday at Big Bend Community College Wallenstien Theater, 6989 College Pkwy NE, Moses Lake. Info: cba-arts.org.
April 7
Marigold Seed Planting Day
Plant marigold seed starts, take them home, care for them and watch them grow, then transplant them outside when it’s warm enough. Great hands-on learning opportunity for little hands. 10 a.m. at Royal City Public Library, 109 Camelia St. NE. Info: 509-346-9281.
April 9
Singo
Singo is a variation 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.
Craft & Chill
Relax, craft, and connect for cozy movie nights where you can bring your own handicraft or explore one at the library and share creative energy in a welcoming space that celebrates community and conversation. Whether you’re crocheting, sketching, painting, folding paper airplanes or just unwinding, there’s a place for everyone. 11 a.m. at George Public Library, 403 S. Washington Way. Info: 509-785-7043.
Columbia Basin Chapter Big Game Banquet
Dinner and auction to support Washington Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Doors open 4:30 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds 4-H Building, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Tickets and info: bit.ly/CBElkAuction26.
Columbia Basin K-9 Fundraiser Banquet
Dinner, raffles and a good time supporting the hardworking K-9 patrol teams in Columbia Basin law enforcement. 5 p.m. at 814 North Stratford Road, Moses Lake. Info: [email protected].
Party for the Paws Dinner Auction
Proceeds support Adams County Pet Rescue. 5 p.m. at 1961 W. Bench Road, Othello. Info: 509-488-5514.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Hoppers (PG); Project Hail Mary (PG-13); Reminders of Him (PG) Scream 7 (R); Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG); The Drama (R); They Will Kill You (R). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: They Will Kill You (R); Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG); The Drama (R). See showhouse3.wordpress.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Holy Days (PG). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
Moses Lake author encourages women to look beyond church culture norms
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake author’s book, “A Christian Woman Striving to Live Her Faith in a Man-Controlled World,” takes aim at the role to which many churches relegate the female half of their congregations. “It’s to encourage women in the faith,” Linda Curran said. “A lot of churches say, ‘Teach Sunday school, do this, do that, but don’t (evangelize.)’" In her book, Curran recounts a time when she moved to a new community and joined a church there. She was surprised to learn that, as a new female member, she had been automatically assigned church cleaning duties. When she questioned it, she wrote, she was met with condescension and her objections were brushed aside. In other churches, she said, women who were capable of teaching were relegated to “women’s ministry.”