Winterfest returns to Soap Lake

Bailey family plays Masquers Theater

SOAP LAKE — Turkey bowling and other holiday festivities return to downtown Soap Lake this weekend during the annual Winterfest celebration.

Festival director Linda Hillman said that the event has been taking place for about 30 years.

It's a community festival for the winter, she said, adding that it is developing into "an international, eclectic cultural event for Soap Lake." Different countries are honored through food vendors and hopefully by craft vendors and artists as well, she said.

A Soap Lake Art Guild Show will begin today at Soap Lake City Hall, and the Winterfest festivities will kick off Saturday at 10 a.m., including games for children, snowman building, turkey bowling for adults, caroling and food vendors. Santa Claus will arrive at noon, and will be visiting the girls and boys, Hillman said, passing out bagfuls of little toys and fruit as supplies last.

The event also includes a raffle, which Hillman called "upper class," with prizes including a wine tour with a paid gas card, a weekend at the Notaras Lodge and a barbecue getaway package for the Soap Lake Inn.

"The raffle is definitely something to take a chance on," Hillman said.

The Bailey Family from Cashmere will perform at Masquers' Jolly Theater Building during Soap Lake's Winterfest on Dec. 10.

Larry and Marla Bailey and three of their seven children have been playing professionally together for more than six years. Larry plays guitar and harmonica. Marla plays bass and sings. Brian, 20, plays mandolin, guitar and sings. Daena, 18, sings harmony and plays guitar. Chantel, 16, plays fiddle.

"At Soap Lake we will be performing a mix of original and traditional bluegrass and Christmas tunes that will be fun for the whole family," Marla stated in a press release about the upcoming concert.

"We're encouraging adults to take an hour and a half off in the evening and come out and enjoy it," Hillman said.

There will be two performances, one from 2 to 3 p.m. and the other from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call the Masquers box office at 246-2611.

"We've had more outside community help and volunteering than ever before," Hillman said, explaining that it's "to make it more of an area event, to bring in the cultures, because we've got so many cultures within the communities on the outskirts of Soap Lake."

— Staff report