CommUnity Day coming to Mattawa this Saturday

MATTAWA — The Mattawa Area Chamber of Commerce is wrapping up the final details of Mattawa CommUnity Day 2016 and looking forward to seeing the result of months of preparation this Saturday, July 30.

“It’s been an exciting endeavor,” Chamber President Brian Webb said. “We hope a lot of people will come out to join us on Saturday.”

“We took the basic Community Day schedule and tried to build on it with some new ideas and enthusiasm,” he added. “Since this was our first time coordinating the day, we’ve learned a lot that we can put into practice for future events.”

As the event has approached, more entries have come in for the various activities. For example, several more youngsters have signed up to be in the Kiddie Parade.

Mattawa’s Distinguished Young Woman court of 2017 will participate dressed as superheroes, ready to rid the community of any villains.

Hund Park will be busy in the afternoon with more than 20 booths providing information, food or activities. A variety of entertainment is planned throughout the afternoon.

The popular salsa contest and belly-busting burrito contest will be separated by performances by adult and youth Latino bands and a children’s drama performance. The Chamber will be raffling off donations from various businesses throughout the afternoon. The entertainment is scheduled to end with soccer juggling exhibitions.

Chamber Vice President Courtney Olson expressed appreciation for all of the people who helped organize different parts of Community Day.

“Many great ideas were suggested, and I think the community will (appreciate) the people who took their ideas and made them happen,” she said.

“It really does take people working together to make an event like this successful. But it’s also what draws the community together – just what the name means CommUnity. We also appreciate the businesses who donated items for the raffle or money to help with the expenses.”

CommUnity day will start at 7:30 a.m. with a 1-mile fun run, followed by the 5k run at 8 a.m. These begin and end in front of the Columbia Basin Health Association building.

At 8 a.m., volunteers from area churches will serve a free breakfast in Hund Park until 10 a.m. or until the food runs out.

The 10:30 a.m. Kiddie Parade will travel down Government Way and be followed by the Grand Parade. The Grand Parade will line up at the high school parking lot.

Then all activities will move to Hund Park with booths and entertainment until about 3 p.m.