Spring Festival to Shake the Lake

MOSES LAKE — Rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Famer Bill Haley launched a battle cry back in 1954, calling for Americans to “Rock Around the Clock.” Using that same fireball mindset, the 36th annual Spring Festival is going to Shake the Lake this Memorial Weekend.

Moses Lake is expected to nearly double in population when the three-day festival takes to the streets with a slew of activities, beginning on Thursday when Eric Engerbretson (5 p.m.) and the legendary Bonnie Guitar (7 p.m.) appears on the main stage at the McCosh Park amphitheater.

There’s music, parades, a carnival, 3-on-3 basketball and a 5 kilometer and 10K fun run. Spring Festival committee member Lori Valdez said there’s a bunch of new stuff for the 36th edition and the committee certainly catered to the adrenalin junkie with the addition of Drop Zero.

“You walk up a ladder and then literally do a free zone drop,” Valdez explained. “It’s a nice extreme activity for people to try.”

Almost overnight, McCosh Park is transformed into a bustling carnival scene with rides, food and commercial vendors. Davis Amusement Cascadia will feature the variety of carnival rides from bumper cars to tilt-o-wheels, but they are also bringing the ride guaranteed to Shake the Lake. The Grand Prix roller coaster will make its Grant County debut.

“This thing literally takes three semi-trucks to bring that roller coaster in,” Valdez said. “It’s for families, it’s for adults and it’s going to blow your socks off.”

The committee also added a Wounded Warrior Project display raising awareness for wounded American service veterans. The Wounded Warrior Project is a veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, service and events for wounded veterans of the military actions.

“They’ll be selling merchandise, hats, T-shirts stuff like that,” Valdez said. “We’re going to set up that booth on Douglas Street facing the carnival.”

It’s expected to be a Memorial weekend to remember. The commercial food booths are open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Thursday’s activities kick off with Carnival Buddy Night with two-for-one rides from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament brings a Basin brand of streetball to town. There are some 90 teams registered featuring all age groups and talent levels. If your hoops got hops, test your skills against some of the best players in the Columbia Basin. The action starts 8 a.m. Saturday on Third Avenue between Ash and Chestnut streets.

They also have a Kiddie Parade at 6 p.m. Saturday on Third Avenue followed by the Grand Moonlight Parade & Pre Show.

The musical lineup is a showcase of talent ranging from The Mac Daddy Band with its party rock from the 1950s and 60s to Vocal Trash with the big bang Heart by Heart show at 5 p.m. on Sunday. It’s not the Wilson sisters that put Seattle on the map back in the day, but Heart by Heart will bring it with the sounds that made Heart a booming success back in the day.

Yep, there’s a classic car show, 3-on-3 basketball, stuff for the kids, bigger stuff for the extreme crowd, music and beer and wine gardens.

You can expect to Shake the Lake this Memorial weekend.

For schedules and more information visit www.moseslakespringfestival.com.