The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – The 'Burg will be hopping this weekend as folks come from far and near to participate in Waitsburg Celebration Days. The three-day event, held the third weekend in May, was organized as a placeholder for the former popular Days of Real Sport which featured horse racing at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds.

State spending cuts forced horse racing to fall by the wayside for smaller venues, but WCD organizers jumped in to offer another kind of ride. Karen's Ride, a poker run named in honor of the late Waitsburg community activist Karen Mohney, has now become a popular tradition, even bringing in riders from out-of-state.

Waitsburg Celebration Days has grown to include much more than the poker ride. The weekend promises to provide fun for the entire family, with a parade, car show, brewfest, carnival, live music and dancing, and much more.

Friday

The weekend kicks off at 4:30 p.m. Friday with a Historical Sunset Cruise that departs from the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. ATV riders will drive mountain roads, stopping along the way to learn about historical points of interest. This year's ride covers new territory, with a loop through Bundy Hollow and then ending back at the fairgrounds bonfire.

Auto enthusiasts will want to be downtown at 6:30 p.m. when the One-of-a-Kind Auto Show Evening Cruise departs Preston Park. Anyone interested in participating, including old or new vehicles on four wheels or two, is welcome to join the lineup at 6 p.m. The cruise will also end up at the fairgrounds bonfire.

The entire community is invited to spend Friday evening around the Brats & Brews Bonfire at the fairgrounds, adjacent to the Lions Club Building, from 4 to 9 p.m. The Q Woodfire Grill will provide brats. Beverages will be available, and the popular Walla Walla band biGfONT will provide musical entertainment.

Rainier Amusements will have carnival rides in Preston Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Dry camping is available all weekend for $10 per night. Contact Joy Smith at (509) 539-8773.

Saturday

American Legion Post #35 will host a hearty all-you-can-eat breakfast at Waitsburg Town Hall from 7 to 11 a.m. Veterans will receive free tickets.

Festivities kick off on Main Street with a kiddie parade at 9:45 a.m. Kids may line up at the Main Street Bridge at 9:30 to participate; there is no need to register.

The annual WCD old fashioned parade, with the theme "Celebrating Waitsburg – The American Way," will make its way down Main Street at 10 a.m., led by Celebration Days Queen Makenna Baron. This year's parade marshals are John and Jill Wood.

Groups, families and individuals who would like to be in the parade can download an entry form by visiting the city website, http://www.cityofwaitsburg.com, and clicking the "Community Events" link. Parade details can be found under the "Waitsburg Celebration Days" heading.

The Annual Classic Car Show will take place in Preston Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no pre-registration required for the car show. Call Fred Gonzalez at (509) 301-9688 to participate.

Karen's Ride Poker Ride will depart the Waitsburg fairgrounds at 1 p.m., with check-in beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Riders will leave the fairgrounds and travel a 35-mile marked course through the scenic foothills of the Blue Mountains, drawing cards at seven checkpoints along the way. The ride ends back at the fairgrounds with an optional run through the mud pit for the final card. Awards will be presented at 4:30 p.m., with wins for the best five-card hand. Riders may purchase an unlimited number of hands for $15 each. Jackpots will be paid out of 60% of the event proceeds, split as follows: 1st place-30%, 2nd place-20%, 3rd place-10%.

Upon their return to the fairgrounds, riders will get down-and-dirty playing in the mud pit. The Lions Club Beer Garden will be open from 1 p.m. through midnight, and the Tacos La Monarca food truck will be on-site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The annual Waitsburg Celebration Days Brewfest will take place at Waitsburg Town Hall from 12 to 4 p.m. The tasting features many breweries and distilleries, with entertainment provided by biGfONT. Tickets are $20 per person at the door.

The Bruce House and Wilson-Phillips House Museums will be open following the parade, and vendors will be selling their wares on the museum grounds. The Wilson-Phillips House will feature a special display on the towns of Prescott and Lamar (see adjoining story).

Saturday night will wrap up with the popular PEO-sponsored Burgers, Bands & Brews event. Enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing for only $15. Minors can enjoy a burger dinner for $7. Dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m., with local bluegrass band Switchgrass Delta providing the entertainment.

At 9 p.m., the award-winning Ryan Larsen Band of Spokane will take the stage in the Don Thomas building for a fun-filled evening of dancing for the 21-and-over crowd. The Ryan Larsen Band has been voted "Best of Show" for bands in Spokane for 2016 and 2017. Chris Blair, son of Waitsburg local, Kevin Blair, plays lead guitar and vocals for the band.

Sunday

The weekend will wrap up with a cowboy church service in Preston Park at 9 a.m.

At 1 p.m. a first-time soap box derby race will be held in front of the City Pool.

Tickets to most events are available at http://www.eventbrite.com, or may be purchased at the door.