The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA-Pioneer Park teemed with more life than usual as the Spring Fling got underway this weekend. Festivities began Friday evening with Fiddlesticks Stings and carried on through Mother's Day.

Attendees were treated to a collection of rare and antique cars onsite beside the budding grounds. A wide selection of both food and wares vendors lined the path which lead to the Locati stages where live performances took place.

The Walla Walla Spring Fling began six years ago when founders Liz and Gary Pierce "decided to see what we could do to invent a new community event...We had worked with all of the vendors at the other event and knew them well," continues Pierce, "we called a few of the long-time vendors asked if they'd follow us to Pioneer Park for this new event and indeed they did. Our first year was smaller than it is now as we enter our sixth year of Walla Walla Spring Fling with Food, Arts & Craft, Commercial and Kidz Zone Vendors."

Liz Pierce also painted a rock for each vendor and then the rocks were hidden all over town. On the back of each was a sticker that read Take me to Walla Walla Spring Fling May 10-12 at Pioneer Park to claim a prize from the vendor on the rock.

This interactive addition makes the Spring Fling as much a scavenger hunt adventure as much as it is a day at the park.

Walla Walla's real life superheroes were honored by nominations from their peers. Among those do-gooders nominated were Derek Ruffcorn who was awarded Resident Firefighter of the year from WWFD4 and WWFD3; Sam Rowley for being a good neighbor, Jonathan (Jono) Grant who is part of the Batman celebration; Gary Pierce; and Ben Lawrence who has been a volunteer on the Rural Fire Department since 2002.

Friday evening concluded with the event's first ever Karaoke contest sponsored by Kary & Kevin Donavon of Walla Walla Karaoke, hosted by Melissa Bates.

From the masses who competed, four singers David Long, Leslie Hubbard, Tommy Barnes, and Serah Shaw were selected to return Sunday and face off as finalists. Waitsburg's own David Long, who can often be heard singing at the Tuxedo Bar & Grill in Prescott on karaoke nights, walked away with the prize.

The dance floor, provided by Muddy Frogwater Square Dancers, was well trodden by a multitude of movers and shakers. Saturday morning the Walla Walla Dance Company took the stage, followed by Walla Walla dance group, Steppin Country.

Saturday evening concluded with songs by the Coyote Kings with Tiphony Dames. Video of their performance can be found on the Walla Walla Spring Fling Facebook page.

Sunday morning Ray Sample sang the national anthem for a special veteran's a military tribute and a performed cover of Hallelujah.

The Estrellas de Mexico Folklorica Ballet troupe performed historic dances from Mexican culture followed by the Joker Band. The weekend of entertainment ended with the Karaoke finals.

By Sunday evening volunteers were on hand to help break down the dance floor, pick up trash, break down booths and overall clean up after the event. And just like that, the whirlwind weekend of food, music and fun is all over.

Festival enthusiasts won't have to wait long for more family-friendly fun. Waitsburg's Celebration Days is this weekend May 18-19.