BASIN EVENTS: June 2026
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 2 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. | May 29, 2026 3:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — As we swing out of spring into summer, there is a host of activities in the Basin, both indoors and out. Here are a few suggestions.
May 29
Restore City Youth Auction
Dinner and live and silent auction to fund youth trip to National Youth Conference. Tickets $20 per person or $35 for a couple. Child care available by donation. 6 p.m. at Restore City Church, 2227 W. Peninsula Drive, Moses Lake. Info: restorecity.church.
May 30
Whimsy in the Park
Fantasy croquet and park games, performers, bubbles, face painting and artisan and food vendors. Fantasy costumes encouraged and prizes for best child and adult costumes. Sponsored by the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce. 12-8 p.m. at East Beach Park, 125 First St. NE, Soap Lake. Info: soaplakecoc.org.
Sludgefest
Heavy metal music festival featuring Merlock, Sawdust, The Velvet Helmets and more. All ages welcome. 12 p.m. at Camas Cove Cellars, 911 Camas Place, Moses Lake. Info: camascovecellars.com.
‘Aladdin’
A magical tale told with ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop dance. Presented by Ballet Academy of Moses Lake. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/AladdinBalletML26. 1 and 6 p.m. at Moses Lake High School, 803 E. Sharon Ave. Info: balletacademyml.com.
June 4
Nonprofit Meetup
All Moses Lake non-profits and service organizations are welcome. Share what your organization is all about, what your current needs are, and network with other local nonprofits. One lucky nonprofit will win a $100 donation from Care Moses Lake. Bring your own lunch. 12 p.m. at the Downtown Moses Lake Association office, 205 S. Division St. Info: 509-770-1002.
June 7
Hands on the Mural
Kids are invited to come put their handprints on the mural, and make it look like a full meadow of wildflowers. Hosted by Its Arty Time. 3-6 p.m. at the Old Hotel Art Gallery, 343 Larch St., Othello. Info: 509-793-8424.
June 10
Senior Picnic
Enjoy lunch, live music and prize giveaways and meet local businesses that offer senior services. A shuttle from the parking lot to the event will be provided. Free to seniors 55 and older, $5 for family members and caregivers. Hosted by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with lunch served at 12 p.m. at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: www.moseslake.com.
June 11
Lind Field Day
Tour the ongoing research projects at the Washington State University Lind Dryland Research Station. Hosted lunch and ice cream social. Free and open to the public. 8:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. at 781 E. Experiment Station Road, Lind. Info and directions: lindstation.wsu.edu.
June 12-13
Sage-N-Sun
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday in the Ephrata sunshine. Live music, parade, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, family activities and more. Hosted by Ephrata Chamber of Commerce. Info: www.ephratachamber.org.
Lind Combine Demolition Derby
Watch farm equipment battle it out in the arena. Car and truck races, parades, barbecue and beer garden, as well as the renowned combine demo derby. Lind Lions Club Arena, 2709 E. Second St., Lind. Info: www.lindcombinederby.com.
June 12-14
Rastelli Circus
Thrilling stunts, laughs, and jaw-dropping talent perfect for the whole family, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE, Moses Lake. Info: RastelliCircus.com.
June 13
Little Big Show
Car show with vendors, food and more. 8 a.m. in downtown Wilson Creek. Info: www.thelittlebigshow.com.
‘The Sugar Kingdom’: A Dance Show’
Lollipops, Jolly Ranchers, gummy bears, and more will take the stage to tell the story of beloved magic dance shoes. Presented by Royalty Dance Studio. 3 and 6 p.m. at Quincy High School Performing Arts Center, 403 Jackrabbit St. NE. Info: 253-888-5665 or royaltydancestudio.com.
June 14
Flag Day Social
Bring your family, friends, and lawn chairs as we kick off summer together and honor our nation’s flag with the community. Flag ceremony, barbecue, ice cream and a visit from the Quincy Valley Historical Society’s “Journey to Philadelphia 1776.” Hosted by Veterans Operation Creation. 12-2 p.m. at Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum, 415 F St SW, Quincy. Info: veteransoperationcreation.com.
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.
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); Michael (PG-13); Obsession (R); Passenger (R); The Sheep Detectives (PG); Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13); The Breadwinner (PG). See www.fairchildcinemas.com for show times.
The Showhouse: The Mandalorian and Grogu (PG-13); The Backrooms (R); Scary Movie 6 (R). See othelloshowhouse.com for show times.
Ritz Theater: Super Mario Galaxy Movie (PG) 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. See www.facebook.com/RitzvilleRitz for updates.
The public is invited to check out the latest in wheat research at the Lind Field Day June 11.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Quincy Lakes Fire spurs evacuations
QUINCY — A fire that broke out in the Ancient Lakes area south of Quincy Saturday night prompted a Level 3, or Go Now, evacuation order. Nobody was hurt, and no structures were threatened, according to Grant County Fire District 5 firefighter Daniel Garland, who spoke from the scene. “We evacuated all the campers,” Garland said. “Probably five to seven people, no cars or trucks, not a crazy amount.” The blaze, dubbed the Quincy Lakes Fire, was officially at 200 acres Sunday morning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, but Garland, who was at the south end of the fire, estimated it at closer to 800. It was discovered at about 9:30 p.m., according to the NIFC.
Basin hospitals honored by state association
MOSES LAKE — Four local hospitals were awarded the Achievement of Quality Excellence by the Washington State Hospital Association at the WSHA Rural Hospital Leadership Conference in Chelan on June 28. “For this year's award, the measures that we looked at related to quality, and those are: working on climate change; working on health equity; our safe deliveries road map, which is related to perinatal work, quality work in the delivering babies arena; fall prevention; opioid harm prevention; sepsis; and workplace violence,” said WSHA Director of Clinical Excellence, Rural Programs Megan Herman. Confluence Hospital in Wenatchee, which serves Moses Lake, Royal City and Ephrata through branch clinics, was a gold honoree, according to an announcement from Confluence Health. Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake and Coulee Medical Center in Grand Coulee also received gold awards, according to the WSHA, and Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata received the silver award.
Where to swim in the Basin
MOSES LAKE — In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot. And it’s likely to get hotter before the summer is over. Which makes plunging yourself into water seem like a really nice idea.