Child categories
| Category | Path |
|---|---|
| Art | /Entertainment/Art |
| Dining | /Entertainment/Dining |
| Music | /Entertainment/Music |
| Theater | /Entertainment/Theater |
Hispanic cultures blend at UMANI
MOSES LAKE — The range of cultures represented in downtown Moses Lake was broad: Mexican, Caribbean and South American performers stood side-by-side with U.S. Chicano lowriders and West Coast rap at the annual UMANI festival, a celebration of Hispanic life. “The streets are full, the vibes are good, the music’s great and the cars are stunning,” said Shawn Cardwell, executive director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts, which puts on UMANI every September.
Flannel Fest brings back the sounds of the ’90s this weekend
MOSES LAKE — The organizers of Flannel Fest are turning up the heat this year. Literally. “One of the things we noticed last year was that after about six o’clock it got pretty chilly,” said Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan. “So we invested in some big propane heaters. We’ll have heaters in the bar building and for the pit in front of the stage.” Flannel Fest starts Friday at the Grant County Fairgrounds, featuring tribute bands that reproduce the grunge and alt-rock sounds that defined the 1990s.
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 2-10, 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s October, and the spooky season is just around the corner. Meanwhile, check out some of the goings-on in the Basin this week.
Youth Dynamics auction to have ’80s theme
MOSES LAKE — It’s time to acid-wash the jeans, dig out the leg warmers and go wild with the hairspray at Youth Dynamics’ banquet and auction Oct. 17. The theme is “Back to the ’80s,” and attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite movie characters from that era, according to Moses Lake Youth Dynamics Director Sean Sallis. Tickets are available until Oct. 10, Sallis said. There are still plenty available, but so far this year’s event is more popular than ever, he said. “As of (Thursday), we’ve sold 23 tables, and we’ve never sold that many tables by Oct. 1,” Sallis said. “(At last year’s auction), there were a lot of new people who had never been to our auction before, who had been invited to a table, and some of those people are now buying their own table with their friends.” Dinner will be prime rib catered by Firehouse Barbecue, followed by a dessert dash with a sweet treat for each table, Sallis said. There will be a photo booth and mocktails by Eleventh Hour. The event is alcohol-free, he said.
Wilson Creek harvests some community fun
WILSON CREEK — Whatever Wilson Creek’s Harvest Festival may have lacked in fancy, large-scale attractions, it more than made up for in good community fun. “It’s just kind of a ‘Relax, have fun, visit with your neighbor’ (way) to bring the community together,” said Shirley Billings, leader of the committee that organizes the festival. The committee consisted of about 12 people, Billings said, and they could be easily spotted around town by their bright orange shirts. The fun was all home-grown and mostly free, including a fun run that also included plenty of people walking and ambling, and a parade that ran down the length of Railroad Street, Wilson Creek’s main drag.
SENIOR EVENTS: October 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — There’s plenty happening for seniors in the Basin this month: live music, crafts and lots of spooky fun to share with the grand-ghouls.
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 9-17
COLUMBIA BASIN — The days are warm, the nights are getting chilly and there are plenty of chances to get out and about. Here are a few.
BARE OUR SHELVES: Check out what's happening at the library this fall
October brings cooler weather and spooky vibes! Library staff are working hard to decorate and prepare for our second annual Not-So-Scary Halloween program on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. We appreciate our community partners, the Moses Lake Community Coalition and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin, for helping make this family-friendly event a success. Our Friends of the Moses Lake Library will provide candy, and library staff will host a haunted book maze, plus crafts and other surprises. Come show off your not-so-spooky costume and have a good time! Last week (Oct. 4-10) was Banned Books Week. You can find a banned book to read at your local library or ask a librarian for a recommendation. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracks requests to ban books. The 2025 data for the most challenged books in public and school libraries is available to view on their website: www.ala.org/bbooks/banned.
Halloween events around the Basin
COLUMBIA BASIN — Halloween is creeping up on us, and our local communities have safe, fun ways for little ghosties and ghoulies to show off their costumes and collect candy. More events are always being added, so we’ll update this list online as the date gets closer. All events are family-friendly and free to the public unless otherwise noted.
Masquers to audition for ‘A Snow White Christmas’
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers Theater will hold auditions next week for its winter play, “A Snow White Christmas,” according to an announcement from Masquers. Auditions will be held at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19 and 20, at the theater, according to the announcement. The play will open Dec. 4.
