BASIN EVENTS: July 10-18
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 1 week AGO
Summerfest will bring a parade, fireworks and more to Royal City Friday and Saturday.
FILE PHOTO
Singer-songwriter Yotes will perform at Michael’s Market and bistro in Moses Lake July 18.
The exhibit “Year of the Horse” will open Friday at Up Town Art Gallery in Moses Lake, with a meet-and-greet with the artists as well as karaoke and cowboy poetry.
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. | July 10, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you soak up the sun or the air conditioning, there’s something happening to suit you in the Basin this week. Check these out.
July 10
‘Year of the Horse’
Opening reception for equine-themed art exhibition. Meet the artists and enjoy karaoke, cowboy poetry and more. 5-7 p.m. at Up Town Art Gallery, 301 W. Broadway Ave., Ste. A, Moses Lake. Info: https://bit.ly/UpTownGalleryML.
Mark Dubbeld Family in concert
Patriotic and gospel music by a family quartet. Free for all ages. 7 p.m. at Moses Lake Nazarene Church, 422 S. Balsam St. Info: www.moseslakenazarene.org.
July 10-11
Summerfest
Royal City’s community festival features a car show, touch-a-truck, goat tying, food, vendors, a parade and fireworks. 6 p.m. Friday-10 p.m. Saturday at Lions Park, Royal City. Info: www.royalcitysummerfest.org.
QVHS Camelot Quest
Free summer adventures for kids at the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum. Medieval merriment with knights, castles, dragons, kings and queens. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at 415 F St. SW, Quincy. Info: 509-787-4685.
July 10-13
American Crown Circus
Step into the big top for a family-friendly circus with music, aerial performances, cotton candy, popcorn, photo fun and a huntrix in the air. K-pop-style attire encouraged but not necessary. 7:30-10:30 at Hund Memorial Park, 101 Government Road, Mattawa. Info: americancrowncircus.com.
July 13
‘Moses Lake: Journey Through Time’ Book Signing
Author Shawn Curtis will sign copies of his book tracing the history of Moses Lake. 1-3 p.m. at the Moses Lake Library, 415 E. Fifth Ave. Info: 509-765-3489.
July 13-16
Extreme Drum Set Camp
Supercharge your drumming at the Extreme Drum Set Camp. Learn drum grooves, fills, tips and tricks to improve your drumming. During the camp, you will be part of a massive drum set circle where you will upgrade your skill and technique through hands-on drumming activities. You will need drumsticks, a drum set (optional) and a desire to groove. For students 11 and older. 12-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday at BBCC Wallenstien Theater, 6989 College Pkwy NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.bigbend.edu.
July 15
Create & Cackle
Do you like to make stuff? Do you have a project unfinished? 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.
July 16
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 Bethel Assembly of God, 915 S 1st Ave, Othello. Info: 2-harvest.org.
Santa’s Summer Bash
For one unforgettable evening, Santa is swapping snow for sunshine and inviting you to celebrate with food, tropical cocktails, island-inspired music, interactive photo experiences and a few surprises. Hawaiian and resort-casual attire is encouraged. Proceeds support the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation. 6-8 p.m. at Michael’s Market and Bistro, 221 W. Broadway, Moses Lake. Info: 509-765-4177.
July 18
Friends of the Moses Lake Library Book Sale
Peruse through gently used books and take home a new treasure for your home library. Proceeds go to help fund library programs. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Moses Lake Public Library, 418 E. Fifth Ave. Info: 509-771-7634.
Ram and Ewe Sale
Buy or sell a wide variety of breeds from some of the top producers in the Northwest. Hosted by Washington State Sheep Producers. 1:30 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.wssp.org.
Live music by Yotes
Yotes combines his rich baritone vocals with an energetic delivery, playing a mix of songs from 1950s country, 1980s neo-rockabilly, modern Americana and many genres and eras in between. Old favorites are interspersed with some of his favorite songs by friends and up-and-coming artists he’s met through the years. 6 p.m. at Moses Lake Taproom, 530 W. Valley Road. Info: 509-707-0052.
This weekend at the movies
Fairchild Cinemas: Disclosure Day (PG-13); Evil Dead Burn (R); Minions and Monsters (PG); Moana (PG); Obsession (R); Supergirl (PG-13); Toy Story 5 (PG); Young Washington (PG-13). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Minions and Monsters (PG); Moana (PG). See othelloshowhouse.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Pressure (PG-13) 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
Singer-songwriter Yotes will perform at Michael’s Market and Bistro in Moses Lake July 18.
The exhibit “Year of the Horse” will open Friday at Up Town Art Gallery in Moses Lake, with a meet-and-greet with the artists as well as karaoke and cowboy poetry.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.”