BASIN EVENTS: June 19-27
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 weeks, 6 days AGO
The Wanapum Native American Discovery Unit will be at the Soap Lake Food and Folk Festival this weekend.
FILE PHOTO
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. | June 19, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — School is out, and summer officially arrives this week. Here are some ways to make the most of the season.
June 19
Soap Lake Food & Folk Festival
Live music, local food, workshops, craft vendors, family activities, and community gathering. Hosted by Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee in partnership with Cloudview Farm and Soap Lake Creative District. Free and open to all ages. Soap Lake Creative District Friday, Cloudview Farms Saturday. Info: tinyurl.com/solawafff.
H.E. Gritman Senior Center Rummage Sale
A wide variety of items to choose from. Prices are by donation. Proceeds support the H.E. Gritman Senior Center. 3 p.m. at 118 W. Main Ave., Ritzville. Info: 509-659-1921.
June 20
Family Picnic Day
Enjoy a day packed with activities and entertainment for all ages. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Downtown Moses Lake Association. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Neppel Landing, 104 S. Alder St., Moses Lake. Info: downtownmoseslake.org.
Autism Movie Day: ‘Toy Story 5’
Autism-friendly screening of the animated film “Toy Story 5.” Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs get exponentially harder when they go head-to-head with a new threat to playtime. 11:30 a.m. at Fairchild Cinemas, 233 N Block St, Moses Lake. Info: grantcountyautism.org.
Caddyshack Par-Tee
Come dressed in your best plaid or golf-themed attire and support Soroptimist International of Moses Lake. Dinner, silent auction, live auction and raffle, followed by dancing under the stars. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/SIMLAuction26. Doors open at 5 p.m. at Pillar Rock Grill, 1373 Road F.2 NE, Moses Lake. Info: moseslakesoroptimist.com.
Hank Buchmann Book Signing
E. Hank Buchmann, author of more than 20 novels, will be signing a number of his published books. Buchmann is a native of the Columbia Basin, which has been a rich source of inspiration for writing his novels, poetry, murder mysteries and westerns. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at The Bookery, 1 Basin St. NW, Ephrata. Info: 509-754-5321.
June 25
‘What’s Troubling You, Moses Lake? ‘
Community town hall meeting. “What’s Troubling You, Moses Lake?” isn’t about debating specific political issues. It’s about exploring some of the root causes that make communities feel divided in the first place: trust, communication, belonging, change, and how we relate to one another as neighbors. Hosted by Moses Lake Community Coalition in partnership with Braver Angels and the Columbia Basin Dispute Resolution Center. 6:30 p.m. at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center, 900 E. Yonezawa Blvd., Moses Lake. Info: mlcommunitycoalition.org.
June 26
2nd Annual Flock Cancer Walk
Follow the flamingo-lined trail along the Gavinski Trail through Neppel Landing and back, cheered on by volunteers and a live DJ. $25 registration fee and a percentage of sales will go to the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation. Register at https://bit.ly/MLFlockCancer26. Info: 509-707-0192.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Backrooms (R); Disclosure Day (PG-13) Masters of the Universe (PG-13); Obsession (R); Scary Movie 6 (R); Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13); Toy Story 5 (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Toy Story 5 (PG); Disclosure Day (PG-13); (R). See othelloshowhouse.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (PG-13) 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Ouija board leads to car prowl arrested
MOSES LAKE — A Ouija board led to an arrest in a vehicle break-in Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department.
One man arrested in MLPD chase
MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake man was arrested Friday following a brief police chase Friday morning. Canaan Nickolas Elliott, 18, was arrested on an out-of-county warrant in the Cascade Valley area of Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department. Elliott was previously arrested in June on suspicion of third-degree retail theft with special circumstances, obstructing a law enforcement officer and second-degree burglary, according to Columbia Basin Herald archives.
Tribute, cover bands finish out Moses Lake’s summer concert series
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Moses Lake Creative District, has come into its own in its fourth year, said Creative Programs Coordinator Jenni Shelton. “I think it’s growing, as things like this do,” Shelton said. “We didn’t have super high attendance with our first two concerts this summer, but we had bad weather. It wasn’t very warm out and there had been rain earlier in the day. But I think word is getting our more and I’m hoping that these tribute bands are going to get people out even more.” Two of this year’s concerts were tied in with other events: R and B singer Lady A performed at Juneteenth and the 133d Army National Guard band performed last week at Red, White and Boom. In between, tejano/conjunto band Los Volcanes de Eddie Rodriguez brought the sounds of the south Texas border country to the Centennial Amphitheater.