BASIN EVENTS: Feb. 20-28, 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 3 weeks AGO
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. | February 20, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — We’re rounding out February in the Basin with lots of fun things to do. Here are a few.
Feb. 21
Hand-Built Pottery: Teapots
Learn ceramic slab-building skills as we roll out raw clay and turn it into a lovely teapot, perfect for winter. Return on March 6 or 7 to bring your piece to life with vibrant glazes. 1-3 p.m. at Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: 509-764-3830.
Autism Movie Day: ‘GOAT’
Autism-friendly screening of the animated film “GOAT,” the story of a small goat who gets a chance to pursue big dreams. Lights and sound will be lowered for sensory-friendly viewing, and there will be a little extra room for viewers with the wiggles. Tickets and rules available at bit.ly/AutismGOATmovie. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., movie begins at 1 p.m. at Fairchild Cinemas, 233 N. Block St., Moses Lake. Info: grantcountyautism.org.
Soap Lake Community & Senior Center Supporters Open House
Volunteers are needed to support center programs and expand open hours. Meet new friends and support your community. Light refreshments will be served. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Soap Lake Community & Senior Center, 121 Second Ave. SE. Info: 360-632-0370.
Checkered Chunky Blanket Workshop
Learn how to create a checkered chunky blanket, plus how to make and add embellishments. Participants who don’t finish their blanket at the event will leave with the knowledge and written instructions to finish it at home. Must supply own yarn. 2-6 p.m. at Camas Cove Cellars, 911 Camas Place, Moses Lake. Info, registration and yarn specifications: rusticgirlpainting.com.
Sage Roots: Mom Support Group
Free support group for mothers of children 0-5 years old. Hosted by Grant County Health District in partnership with Embrace Women’s Health and Midwifery Care and Prenatal Support Washington. 2-3 p.m. at 827 Colonial Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-766-7960.
Enchanted Evening
Enjoy a magical night of family fun featuring crafts, games, face painting, ice cream floats, dancing and appearances by fairy tale characters and superheroes. For ages 12 and younger and their parents. Hosted by Moses Lake Choir Boosters. 6-9 p.m. at Moses Lake High School, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Tickets and info: mlhs.ticketspice.com/enchantedevening2026.
The Bada Bings
Live music from Wenatchee’s good-time rock-and-roll band. 9 p.m. at Sporty’s Bar & Grill, 507 E. Broadway Ave., Moses Lake. Info: www.sportysml.com.
Feb. 23
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.
Feb. 26
‘Midway’
Screening of the 1976 film starring Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda about the pivotal World War II naval battle. 2 p.m. at the Ephrata Senior Center, 124 C St. NW. Info: www.ephrataseniorcenter.org.
Take Flight STEM Night
Free, family-centered evening of hands-on learning, connection, and inspiration powered by Boeing and led by NCW Tech Alliance and Apple STEM Network. Free registration required at https://bit.ly/LongviewSTEM26. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner and keynote address 5:15-6 p.m., rotating STEM activities 6-7 p.m. at Longview Elementary School, 9783 Apple Road NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-661-9000.
Soroptimist Bingo
Support Soroptimist International with prizes, silent auction items, a 50/50 drawing and bingo. Dinner by Porky’s Hotdogs. 6 p.m. at Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
Feb. 27-28
Columbia Basin Home & Garden Show
Whether you’re planning spring home projects, dreaming of spring gardens, looking for fresh inspiration, or just love browsing artisan vendors, sipping coffee and connecting with the community, this event has something for everyone. Free admission on Friday. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds Commercial Building, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-750-8911 or seedcupboardnursery.com.
Feb. 28
Samaritan Hospital Community Open House
The community is invited for a look at the new Samaritan Hospital, which opens for patient care March 7. Preregistration is recommended, but walk-ins will be accepted as space allows. Register for a tour time at WeAreSamaritan.org/Open-House. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at 2000 S. Clover Drive, Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-5606.
Golden Giving Night
Banquet and auction to support the Quincy Food Bank. Irish-themed dinner and live entertainment. 5 p.m. at the Port of Quincy, 101 F. St. SW. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/GoldenGiving26. Info: quincyvalley.org or 509-787-2140.
LJ Polmateer
Live music by Moses Lake singer-songwriter LJ Polmateer. 7-9 p.m. at Moses Lake Tap Room, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Bendito Corazon (not rated); Crime 101 (R); Dracula (R); GOAT (PG); I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG) Iron Lung (R); Send Help (R); Solo Mio (PG); Strangers: Chapter 3 (R); Wuthering Heights (R); Zootopia 2 (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Wuthering Heights (R); GOAT (PG); I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG) How to Make a Killing (R); Scream 7 (R). See showhouse3.wordpress.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: H is for Hawk (PG-13). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
Singer-songwriter LJ Polmateer will perform Feb. 28 at the Moses Lake Tap Room.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Ephrata Youth Fishing Derby Saturday
EPHRATA — The Ephrata Lions Club will host its annual Youth Fishing Derby from 6 to 8 a.m. this Saturday at Ping Pond, formerly Oasis Park Pond, according to Lions Club member Bill Sangster. The event is free for all children 4-14 years old. No registration is necessary; kids can just show up and fish. A fish farm is stocking the pond, Sangster said. “They (said they’re) going to put some big ones in, six- or seven-pounders,” Sangster said.
Hands-on history
Youth Heritage Project to explore Ellensburg history, alternative energy
MOSES LAKE — Some students in the Columbia Basin will get a chance to experience history at close range this summer. The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is accepting applications for its four-day Youth Heritage Project, which will be July 13-16 in Ellensburg this year. “We go to different places in the state every year … and do a deep dive into a place,” said Moira Nadal, director of preservation for the WTHP. “We … want the students to have a chance to get to know a place. They could be in a classroom anywhere, (but) walking around, spending time in a place, doing site visits, those are really important.”
Moses Lake ready for spring cleaning
MOSES LAKE — The annual Downtown Cleanup will be this Saturday, with an expanded range. “We’ll be cleaning up downtown Moses Lake, probably spanning from Balsam Street up to Cedar, and then we’re extending over to Neppel Landing Park this time,” said Mallory Miller, executive director of the Downtown Moses Lake Association, which organizes the cleanup. There has been some concern about needles or other sharps being found at Neppel Landing, Miller added, so only those volunteers who are comfortable with that possibility will be asked to clean that area.