EPHRATA — Sage-N-Sun will fill downtown Ephrata this weekend with music, parades, sunshine, fun and a semiquincentennial celebration. 

“Everything is patriotic-themed,” said Britney MacLeod, director of the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. “From our bands to the decoration of the town and the parade, the festival (will be) red, white and blue.” 

The festivities begin Thursday evening with the Youth Parade and then take off in earnest the next morning with the Ephrata Lions Club Fun Run, followed by Grand Parade, according to the Chamber’s online schedule.

The Grand Parade marshals were also chosen with an eye toward patriotism, MacLeod said.  

“Our grand marshals are our military veterans and those still serving,” she said. “We’ve partnered with the American Legion and they’re bringing in quite a few people on a couple of semi-trucks.” 

Friday’s musical lineup will be themed “Stars, Stripes and Country Nights.” The show will open with Seattle-based Hell on Heels: a Tribute to the Queens of Country.  

“Hell on Heels is the ultimate tribute to the queens of country music – an eight-piece powerhouse delivering the biggest hits from legends like Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and more,” according to the band’s promotional materials. “With show-stopping vocals, fierce harmonies, fiery fiddle, and a high-energy stage presence, Hell on Heels brings a polished, arena-worthy experience to every performance.” 

The ladies will be followed by Butte, Montana singer-songwriter Levi Blom. Blom initially played semi-pro hockey before moving into the music scene. Blom has released two EPs of original material and has opened for many well-known performers, according to his promotional materials. 

Saturday’s musical theme will be “Red, White and Blue Revival,” and will feature Soul Siren, playing hits of the 1970s and ’80s, and ’90s Rewind, with music from the 1990s and 2000s. 

The last concert will be followed by a drone show, with about 100 drones giving a patriotic light show above the Grant County Courthouse, MacLeod said. 

Last year’s festival revived the 3-on-3 basketball tournament, which had fallen by the wayside for a number of years. The tournament was a big hit last year, MacLeod said, and it will return this year bigger than before.  

“We had lots of out-of-towners, a lot of local teams in the elementary groups,” MacLeod said. “We’re excited about the expansion of it.” 

At 116 years old, Sage-N-Sun may be the oldest continuously-held festival in Grant County. It’s proved popular beyond Ephrata, MacLeod said, which means it’s bringing tourism money into the local economy.  

“We have been trying to bring in new aspects to the festival over the last couple of years,” she said.  “We’re finding we’re getting more foot traffic from lake-goers who are coming through town or people who are hearing about it in neighboring counties. We’ve (done) a couple of surveys, and we’re finding we’re getting more and more people from out of town to enjoy the festival.” 

Sage-N-Sun 

June 11-13 

Grant County Courthouse 

35 C St. 

Ephrata 

For full schedule visit ephratachamber.org 

    The Hell on Heels country tribute show will headline Friday night at Sage-N-Sun.
  

    Soul Siren will revive hits of the 1970s and ’80s at Sage-N-Sun this weekend.