BASIN EVENTS September 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 2 weeks AGO
The Almira Country Fair will feature a parade, car show, vendors and more on Sept. 26.
FILE PHOTO
Moses Lake’s UMANI Festival will celebrate the many different Hispanic heritages and traditions of the Columbia Basin Sept. 26.
The Almira Country Fair will feature a parade, car show, vendors and more on Sept. 26.
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. | August 28, 2026 3:25 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — The summer is over, and it’s time to start the fall festivities. Here’s a taste of what awaits you in September.
Aug. 29
Community Resource Fair
This event is open to anyone who wants to better understand how to support individuals struggling with substance use disorder—whether it's yourself, a loved one, or a member of the community. Attendees can take part in naloxone training, explore local support resources, and honor those impacted by overdose. As part of the tribute, purple flags may be dedicated to individuals whose lives were saved with naloxone, while white flags will honor those who were lost to overdose. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at McCosh park, 410 W., Fourth Ave., Moses Lake. Info: https://bit.ly/GrantCoResourceFair.
Back to School Movie Night
Free movie “Zootopia 2,” plus food vendors, community resources and games. Hosted by the Othello Chamber of Commerce. Event starts at 43 p.m., movie begins at sunset at Kiwanis Park, 870 S. Shady Lane Place, Othello. Info: 509-488-2683.
Sept. 3-6
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair
A community celebration full of livestock, exhibits, entertainment, rodeo and more. Craft and food vendors, including the fair’s iconic kraut runza. 12 p.m., Thursday-2 p.m. Sunday at Wheat Land Communities’ Fairgrounds, 811 E Main Ave, Ritzville. Info and full schedule: www.wheatlandfair.com.
Sept. 5-7
Warden Community Days
Car show, parade and free community dinner. Info: WCDays.com.
Sept. 6
Pirates of Camas Cove Regatta
A flotilla of fun! Build your own boat and race around the course off the dock at Camas Cove Cellars. Music will be provided by the Seven C’s Pirate band. Events begin at 2 p.m., race starts at 3:30 p.m. with prizes and a celebration to follow. Camas Cove Cellars, 911 Camas Place, Moses Lake. Info: www.camascovecellars.com.
Sept. 10-13
Northwest Huckfest
RC aircraft show and competitions hosted by Miniature Aircraft Association – Tri-Cities Thursday at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., 2395 W Hampton Rd, Othello. Info:
my2wings.org.
Sept. 11
Community Shred Day
Protect your personal information by keeping bank statements, credit card bills, medical records and tax forms out of the hands of identity thieves. Personal papers only; no binders or hard drives. No charge. 9 a.m. to noon at Washington Trust Bank, 402 S. Ash St., Moses Lake. Info: www.watrust.com/shred.
B Street Block Party
Music, dancing and community under the stars. Live music by The Wicked Pickles. 5:30-10 p.m. on B Street in downtown Quincy. Info: 509-787-2140 or quincyvalley.org.
Sept. 12
Care Fair
Local nonprofits and service organizations ready to show what they’re all about and ways to give back to the community. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at McCosh Park, 567 S Dogwood St, Moses Lake. Info: caremoseslake.com.
Farmer Consumer Awareness Day
Farmer Consumer Awareness Day is a day for farmers to show how food is produced, and for consumers to learn. The festival includes a parade, farm equipment display, quilt show, vendors, tours, fun run, car show and more. 9 a.m. at Quincy Middle School, 16 Sixth Ave. SE, Quincy. Info: www.quincyfcad.org.
Hartline Days
Parade, fun run, games, live auction, vendors and more. Proceeds go to local scholarships. Fun run starts at 8 a.m., parade 10:30 a.m., auction 1 p.m. at Hartline Community Park. Info: 509-641-0323.
Sip & Stroll
Visit local businesses and sample wines, beers, ciders and spirits made locally and regionally. 10 a.m. in downtown Moses Lake. Info: downtowmmoseslake.org.
Sept. 16
Create & Cackle
Join fellow artists, makers and creatives to hang out and finish that project you’ve been working on. 6 p.m. at The Main Event, 116 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 843-323-2218.
Sept., 17-20
Deutschesfest
Beer garden, live music and more in downtown Odessa. Info: www.deutschesfest.net.
Sept. 19
Autism Community Day
Community celebration focused on inclusion, connection, acceptance, and family fun. Bounce house, corn dogs, coffee, games and resources for autism families and others. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Grant County Courthouse,
Sept. 26
Almira Country Fair
Car show, parade, vendors and more. All day at Lions Club Park, Almira. Info: [email protected].
Veteran Resource and Job Fair
Employment opportunities, resources, free cold weather gear for homeless veterans and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds Commercial and 4-H buildings, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-246-0904.
UMANI Festival
Celebrate the Hispanic heritages of the Columbia Basin with local, regional and international music, dancing, art, low rider show and more. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in downtown Moses Lake. Info: cba-arts.org.
Sept. 26-27
Living History Encampment
Encampment of soldiers and civilians with military and craft demonstrations, educational talks and a visit with famous figures from the American Revolution including George Washington and John Hancock. Saturday at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum, 415 F St. SW. Info: 509-787-4685.
Sept. 28
Coffee and Support
Grab your favorite coffee and start your Monday out with a good cup of joe and support from those who are on the autism journey with you. Sponsored by the Autism Support Group of Grant County. 9-11 a.m. at Cup of Joy Cafe, 430 E. Division St., Ephrata. Info: grantcountyautism.org.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Coyote vs. Acme (PG); The Dog Stars (R); The End of Oak Street (PG-13); Insidious: Out of the Further (PG-13); Mutiny (R); The Odyssey (R); Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie (PG); Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PG-13). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Insidious: Out of the Further (R); Coyote vs. Acme (PG); The Dog Stars (R). See othelloshowhouse.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (PG-13). Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
Moses Lake’s UMANI Festival will celebrate the many different Hispanic heritages and traditions of the Columbia Basin Sept. 26.
The Almira Country Fair will feature a parade, car show, vendors and more on Sept. 26.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.”