Spring Festival rules ML this weekend

Crowds battle 'crazy' weather; turn out in large numbers to annual event

It's the grandest weekend on the Moses Lake spring calendar. The trouble was, this year, nobody reminded Mother Nature.

With threatening clouds Friday and strong winds Sunday, Moses Lake citizens celebrated this year's version of the Spring Festival.

The grayness and the gusts conspired against most of the vendors and visitors at McCosh Park, who saw the unfriendly weather dampen their sales and purchases, if not their enthusiasm.

"It's been kind of slow," said shirt designer Dorene Blacker, from Darrington, Wash., "Yesterday (Friday) was slower."

Fongkaew Loskot, a vendor of handmade art from Thailand, said that Saturday's sunshine had helped their business at the event.

The better weather Saturday was enough incentive for plenty of people to mosey over to the park, including those for whom Moses Lake is the quintessential far, far, away place, such as Mike Arnold from Bismarck N.D., who was hoping to travel back east with a pair of sunglasses purchased at the fair.

Those without enterprising spirit, or perhaps in no need of sunglasses, needed only to walk over to the Centennial Ampitheatre, where a trio of singers from Wenatchee belted a few country music hits, in front of a crowd who responded to their croonings with polite applause.

Barry Nellums, one of the singers said that the crowd could have been more enthusiastic. "Maybe they don't know country," he said.

While some people were ponying up for a myriad of products at the booths or listening to country tunes, others were listening to the sweet sound of roaring engines by Civic Center Park, as yet another edition of the Spring Festival's Car Show took place Saturday.

Among the speedsters and road warriors, there was no argument, the show was a runaway hit.

"It's been really good," said Diane Jackson from Moses Lake, "It gets better each year, with many people coming through and lots of competition. It's a great show."

Darrell Thomas, who took first place last year in the motorcycles category, said that he had "declined" to participate this year in order "to give other bikes a chance."

One of those bikes belonged to Len Schulmeister, who took first place this year, aboard his yellow 2003 Big Dog Boxer.

"It was awesome," he said of the show. "You meet a lot of great people."

As Saturday's summery weather turned cold, many grabbed hold of their blankets and parkas, a nd proceeded to enjoy the marquee event of the three-day celebration of spring — The 2004 Moonlight Parade, with area doctor James Irwin as this year's Grand Marshall.

Despite a delay, the crowd stayed, watched and waved, as people in uniforms or costumes; on floats or in vehicles strolled down the central streets of Moses Lake until the late hours of the night.

Participants from Ephrata, Warden, Prosser, Othello, Royal City and Moses Lake turned in a memorable performance, mingling with the crowd and stopping for countless photographs.

Sunday's strong winds challenged the crowds, but many still showed up to enjoy the final hours of the festival. With many of the booths closing, some vendors gave the event passing marks, bad weather included.

"Friday was very bad and (Saturday) was good," said Evelyn Neis from Spokane's Olde Tyme Photo. "The weather had a lot to do with that."