Royal City turns out for SummerFest
Grant County Commissioner Cindy Carter rides on a float with Royal City royalty during the SummerFest parade.
Royal's summer festival has something for everyone.
ROYAL CITY — Keesha and Chad Thayer found a cool, shady spot to sit in the park after Saturday’s SummerFest Parade in Royal City.
Keesha, a former Royal City resident, came home to visit her mother, Terri Cochran, who was also sitting with the couple.
Drinking iced bottled water, they shared what they enjoyed most about the event.
For Keesha, SummerFest is a tradition. Although she now lives in Spokane, she returns home every year for the event.
Chad said he enjoys watching the dancing horses in the parade.
“That’s my favorite part,” he commented. “I like the horses. What’s not to like about dancing horses? They’re horses that dance. That’s awesome.”
Cochran said the family is also celebrating her granddaughter’s first birthday during the weekend.
Most of the festival activity centered around the community park. Vendors, games and music were provided.
Verdene Younger, of Royal City, also attended the event. Her daughter is visiting from Auburn.
“Everyone comes, even if they live far away,” Younger said.
A group of youth from Valley View Christian Church in Kent offered a free fishing game for children. One prize was a coloring page in the shape of a cross.
Cherie Hohn, 19, of Kent, said she was in Royal City with the church presenting programs, dramas, worship in the park and puppet shows.
“It’s so cool,” she said. “We came on the perfect weekend. It’s so much fun.”
Leslie Fanning, with the festival committee, said the event had been “awesome.”
The turnout was excellent and the park was full.
They served about 600 people at a barbecue Friday night and roughly 1,500 people arrived that night. The Canyon River Band also performed.
There was a record turnout for the fun run, which was held in memory of Royal High School coach Bob Nielson. He died from cancer earlier this year.
Money from the run went to fund defibrillators for Grant County Fire District 10.
“He knew we were doing this before he passed away,” she said. “We hoped he would be here for it.”
During festival weekend, the town’s restaurants receive more business.
She also mentioned the generosity of businesses making the event possible, as well as the 250 volunteers.
A new children’s event was a hunt for $200 in coins called “Treasure in the Hay.”
A local “Amazing Race” was also an added feature.
Fanning mentioned the help provided by the Valley View Christian Church group, comprised of 35 youth and 10 adults.
For service projects, they cleaned homes, washed windows, delivered food baskets for the needy and cleaned the park in Royal City.
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