BASIN EVENTS: March 6-14
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months 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. | March 6, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s spring at last, and the Basin is filled with ways to get out and about. Whether you’re itching to get outside or you still want to huddle inside a warm building, there’s something for everybody. Here are some possibilities.
March 6-7
‘Footloose’
Quincy High School presents “Footloose.” 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 and March 5-6, 2 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 6 at Quincy High School Performing Arts Center, 403 Jackrabbit St. Tickets and info: https://bit.ly/QHSFootlooseTix.
March 6
‘Cascadia: Art and Chemistry’
Opening reception for an exhibit by central Washington artist Tarra C. Hall-Ward. Hall-Ward artistically translates the chemistry and science of the PNW. Throughout the exhibit, inspiration from geology, pigments and aromatic chemistry intertwine with the innate properties, texture and intuitive mark-making of oil paints, watercolor and pencil. Light refreshments will be served. 4-7 p.m. at Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, 401 S. Balsam St. Info: 509-764-3822.
‘The Deep Below, The Sky Above’
Opening reception for exhibit by local artists, centered around landscapes and underwater scenes in many different media. Refreshments and beverages will be served. Exhibit runs through April 25. 5-7 p.m. at Up Town Art Gallery, 301 W. Broadway Ave., Ste. A, Moses Lake. Info: https://bit.ly/UpTownGalleryML.
Artrageous
Picture a spectacle where music, dance, and live painting collide in a mesmerizing fusion, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. Artrageous is a visual concert that fuses the mesmerizing music of original recording artists and composers with multisensory, dynamic live art curated by award-winning artists. The combined experience creates an immersive journey designed to create lasting memories and a sense of purpose and joy while stimulating your mind and senses. 7 p.m. at Big Bend Community College Wallenstien Theater, 6989 College Parkway, Moses Lake. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
March 7
Dr. Seuss Bingo and Silent Auction
Oh, the fun you’ll sponsor! Proceeds benefit Big Bend Cooperative Preschool. 4:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1020 A St., Moses Lake. Info: bigbendcooperativepreschool.com.
Youth Outdoors Unlimited Auction
Live and silent auction and banquet. Proceeds go to take youth with disabilities or life-threatening illness on hunting and fishing trips. 4:30-9:30 p.m. at Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel, 3015 W. Marina Drive, Moses Lake. Tickets and info: https://charityauction.bid/YOUMosesLake2026.
March 11
Birchwood Mushroom Painting
Experience the joy of painting on birch wood. You will love the smooth feel it gives to your piece, and you can incorporate the grain of the wood into your piece for a beautiful effect. Wine available for purchase. Hosted by DP Artz. 5:30 p.m. at Millie’s Wine Bar, 114 First Ave. MNW, No.106, Ephrata. Info and tickets: https://dp-artz.square.site.
March 12
Adult Craft Night: Mini Beaded Plants
Leave the children behind and create beaded plants with assorted beads and floral wire molded into a cute mini terracotta planter. For patrons 18 and older. 5 p.m. at Soap Lake Public Library, 32 Main Ave. E. Info: 509-246-1313.
March 13-17
‘Up the Down Staircase’
Step inside the halls of a bustling urban high school where idealism meets reality in this heartfelt and often humorous story of a young teacher finding her way. The play follows Sylvia Barrett as she begins her first teaching job – full of hope, enthusiasm, and big dreams. But between endless paperwork, rule books, red tape, and unforgettable students, she quickly learns that education is about far more than lesson plans. 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, 2 p.m. Saturday matinee at Moses Lake High School, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Info and tickets: https://bit.ly/MLHS-UTDS.
March 13
Sourdough for Beginners
Are you ready to finally take the plunge into sourdough and all of its benefits? Come learn a skill as old as time and get your hands doughy. Laura, a WSDA-certified commercial sourdough baker and instructor, will teach you all you need to know to bake an artisan sourdough boule from start to finish. Tickets $99, available at https://bit.ly/SourdoughTix26. 5-7:30 p.m. at The Drip, 123 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: [email protected].
Comedy Night
Featuring Tacoma-based Robert Ca$h Moore. 7 p.m. at Rick’s Eatery, 819 W. Third Ave., Moses Lake. Info: 509-761-9644.
March 14
Lucky Finds Market
Local treasures, fresh spring foods, unique handmade gifts and more at this offseason event by the Moses Lake Farmers market. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr NE, Moses Lake. Info: 509-237-2100 or farmersmarketml.com.
Brews & Tunes
Check out regional breweries, cideries and distilleries, local music and a whole downtown full of shopping. Non-alcoholic options are available. Participants will receive seven tasting tickets, a map of the event, swag bag and a customized tasting glass. 1-5 p.m. starting at Sinkiuse Square, 306 SD. Ash St., Moses Lake. Info and tickets: 509-770-1700 or downtownmoseslake.org.
Coffee & Canvas Spring Paint Event
Guided paint session with artist Nellie Hoots. Invite your friends and family for an evening of creativity, laughter, and maybe a little tea party magic. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Desert Rose Cafe, 745 E. Hemlock St, Othello. Registration and info: https://bit.ly/SpringPaint3-26.
This weekend at the movies:
Fairchild Cinemas: Bendito Corazon (not rated); Crime 101 (R); GOAT (PG); Hoppers (PG); I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG); Iron Lung (R); Scream 7 (R); Solo Mio (PG); The Bride! (R); Wuthering Heights (R). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: Scream 7 (R); Hoppers (PG); The Bride! (R). See showhouse3.wordpress.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Wuthering Heights (R). 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
“The Deep Below, the Sky Above,” opens Friday at Up Town Art Gallery in Moses Lake.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy National Night Out scales down
QUINCY — Quincy’s National Night Out was more compact this year, which worked out well, said QPD Sgt. Joe Westby, who’s in charge of event planning for the Quincy Police Department. “National Night Out is a big event, and the fact that we’re able to shrink it up is like a breath of fresh air,” Westby said. “If you're always doing the same thing, it's kind of nice to switch things up and see how it works.” National Night Out took place Thursday on the block of C Street next to the police station, a shift from previous years when it was held at Lauzier Park. The smaller space meant fewer emergency vehicles for children to explore, but it also meant less walking for attendees. Grant County Fire District 5 brought a fire truck, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office had a patrol boat. Renew, the Grant County behavioral health agency, had a booth and so did Quincy Partnership for Youth. Veterans Operation Creation sang the national anthem, and the Quincy Animal Shelter brought kittens that piled over each other making friends with passersby. As before, the QPD served grilled hot dogs.
Quincy Police retirements leave big shoes to fill
QUINCY — There are some big shoes to fill at the Quincy Police Department. “We’re losing 48 years of experience between them,” Quincy Police Chief Ryan Green said at the retirement party for Capt. Jorge Trujillo and Det. Damon Powell Thursday. Trujillo, who grew up in Sunnyside, has been with QPD for 19 years, he said, coming on as a patrol officer fresh out of the military. From there he served as a field training officer, a detective and finally captain. “I consider him my left-hand man,” Green said. “He runs the operations side of the house … He knows the agency very well, and he knows the community.” Trujillo has some projects around the house to tackle now that he’s retired, he said.
Big fun on a small scale
Wheat Land Communities’ Fair opens Thursday
RITZVILLE — The Wheat Land Communities’ Fair isn’t as big or as flashy as some of the county fairs around central Washington, but the folks who keep it going like it just the way it is. “It’s somewhere you can go and get an old-time traditional feeling, and you’re comfortable letting your kids roam the grounds and experience all that it has to offer,” said Board Member Lori Williams. “It’s more of a feeling than (one) specific thing,” The fair starts Thursday in Ritzville and runs through Sunday. Starting Friday, the 56th Ritzville Rodeo will take place alongside the fair at the rodeo grounds. This year the entertainment budget was expanded, Williams said, to be able to offer more fun that’s covered by the cost of admission. For the kids, there’s face painting, balloon art, Lego crafts, races, contests and games. Children can also ride on a little train towed around the fairgrounds behind a tractor.