Soap Lake celebrates Smokiam Days
A team pushes its bed during the Smokiam Days bed race last year. Photo by Bill Stevenson Columbia Basin Herald
Community offers fireworks at dusk July 5
SOAP LAKE - After Columbia Basin residents decide where to spend July 4, Chuck Fogerson hopes the choice is clear where to spend the next day.
"You won't have to make the big decision of which show to go watch," he said. "After you pick July Fourth's show, you can always come over and see ours the next day. No competition."
Soap Lake offers its fireworks at dusk Saturday.
"Basically, that's when we can get it scheduled," explained Fogerson, director for the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce, which is coordinating activities for Soap Lake's annual Smokiam Days celebration. "The last couple of years, there's actually been situations where they've canceled upwards of a dozen shows around the state on the Fourth because there's not enough tech crews to put them on. So, we go the fifth."
Fireworks in Soap Lake have historically drawn people from around the region, Fogerson noted.
"With what the cost of travel is now, it's something the local people can go to and not have to drive a long distance," he said. "It's never been strictly Soap Lake. We've literally had people from across the U.S. and Canada come down for the fireworks show."
Smokiam Days is more of a community event than a celebration of Independence Day, Fogerson said.
"It's evolved over decades," he said with a chuckle.
Saturday's the day for the majority of events, beginning with a pancake feed at the Soap Lake Senior Center, located at 121 Second Ave. S.E., at approximately 9 a.m.
The grand parade takes place at 10 a.m., followed by bed races, said Fogerson, Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce director.
For the first time, vendors will be in Soap Lake's East Beach Park both Friday and Saturday. There will be music at the gazebo in the park from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
A salmon feed, with help from Soap Lake City Councilmember and businesswoman Marina Romary and the staff at Don's Restaurant, the Notaras Lodge and the Soap Lake Businessman's Club, takes place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the lawn of the lodge, located at 13 Canna St. N., under the canopy. Cost is $12 per person, children under the age of 4 are free.
The Art Guild of the Soap Lake Area's seventh annual Photo Fest also begins Friday at the Las Brisas Art and Conference Center, located at 223 Daisy St. S.
For more information, call the chamber at 509-246-1821 or via e-mail at chuckfogerson@nctv.com.