Sage-n-Sun Family Festival Event showcases Columbia Basin tradition
The 106th Sage-n-Sun Family Festival takes place Aug. 5-7 in Ephrata. The weekend of family tradition will be held in conjunction with the Babe Ruth League World Series this year.
EPHRATA — In the 106 years of putting on the Ephrata Sage-n-Sun Family Festival, organizers have learned a little something about how to throw a street party.
The festival is all about family fun and tradition and the 106th edition Aug. 5-7 is expected to follow in the footsteps of that long history. There will be a few new twists this year as well. The Sage-n-Sun will be held in conjunction with the 2016 Babe Ruth League 16-18 World Series, which will be played at the Johnson O'Brien Stadium.
Since teams are in coming from Pennsylvania, Missouri, Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas and Indiana, this year’s festival will share the hospitality of central Washington with people from around the country.
“We haven’t had an actual head count, but we’ve gaged as many as 10,000 people at the festival in years past,” said president Michelle Clark, who has been involved with the organization for the past 10 years. “The grand parade on Saturday brings in lots of people. Afterwards, the families tend to grab their fair food, walk around and shop and listen to the music.”
This year will feature the annual Chili Challenge Cook-off, along with festival favorites like the Pitch Perfect Talent Show competition which is for all ages and a throwback to the days of Sagebrush Olympics.
“We have a small, but dynamic, fantastic board,” Clark said. “This year we’ve really had people step up and help get things done. The board is actually the ones that carry the festival organization.”
The parade chair is Jeanette Lincoln-Cole and the food and craft vendor chair is Orvella Fields.
The Sage-n-Sun Family Festival has grown over the years, but the one thing they pride themselves in the tradition for Columbia Basin families. Organizers say the daily music and entertainment at the Grant County Courthouse steps in addition to the commercial/arts/crafts vendors, the food will give the out-of-state crowd a chance to enjoy the street party as part of their Babe Ruth League World Series experience.
The grand parade will be at 11 a.m. on Aug. 6. The Perfect Pitch Talent Show will hit the main stage at 5 p.m. later than night and run through 7 p.m.
For a complete listing of events go to www.sagensun.org or find the festival on Facebook.