Royal City SummerFest schedule set

ROYAL CITY — This year’s Royal City SummerFest, themed “Fiesta,” is set officially for July 10-15.

Jumpstarting the annual event, however, actually takes place three days earlier with the ever-popular Racewars, the Columbia Basin’s biggest amateur drag racing event, held at the B&G Farms Airstrip on Road 11 Southwest near Adams Road July 7 and 8.

Friday night’s DTP Racewars Grudge Matches get underway at 6 p.m. The DTP Saturday Night Racewars Invitational will start at 5 p.m.

Registration forms for all Royal City SummerFest Fiesta events may be downloaded at www.rcsummerfest.org. However, contestants may sign up for the drags at the airstrip on race day, according to organizer Jesus Esparza.

Esparza (509-989-8483) and co-organizer Oscar Garcia (509-431-5337) are members of the Royal City Lions Club, which sponsors the drags. Contact either person for more information.

A somewhat new/revised event at SummerFest this year is the 3-on-3 soccer tournament taking place over four evenings at Lions Park, July 10-13, from 4-8 p.m. The tournament, which is for kids, youths, teens and adults, had been on a 7-year hiatus. It’s back by popular demand. Shaq Ledezma, (509) 761-8118, is the chair and contact person for the event.

More than 50 registration forms have been requested so far. There is a $20 participation fee, with 60 percent of the proceeds going to the Royal High School soccer program, and 40 percent for prizes.

The registration deadline is June 30. Finals will be played on Thursday, July 13, with a Movie in the Park flick following. The show is expected to start by 9:15 p.m.

SummerFest will start heading to its conclusion on July 14 with great food and entertainment in Lions Park. Regional and local performers will entertain

Shy-Ann, a five-person band from Wenatchee, will be the main musical attraction, featuring a mixture of classic rock, country and a bit of Latin. The band takes the stage at 6 p.m., and performs until 10.

Entrants for Royal’s Got Talent, the Danza Folklorica de Royal City, Makynlee Miller and the RHS dance team will perform during breaks and intermission.

The Saddle Mountain Supply cooks will serve the annual SummerFest BBQ in the pavilion at 6 p.m. that same night. Tickets for the BBQ and hot dog plates are available at Royal City Harvest Foods and at the gate as well.

The second annual SummerFest Glow Run gets underway a 9:15 p.m., and will benefit Community Hugs, a special humanitarian program of the Royal City Police Department. There will be prizes for placement and most glow. Registering by the deadline of July 1 guarantees delivery of a glow-in-the-dark shirt. Late registrations will be taken from 7-8:45 p.m. on the eve of the 5K run. The event attracted 250 runners last year. Call Courtney Andersen, (509-431-2903) for more information.

The fabulous annual fireworks show, which Fanning said will be the biggest display to date, blasts off at 10.

A 6-8 a.m. Amigos Free Breakfast of ham, eggs, pancakes, juice and coffee served by Royal School District employees kick-starts Saturday morning at SummerFest.

The breakfast will be followed up by The 3-on-3 basketball tournament that tips off at 8. Registration fee is $50 through July 6 and then $80 thereafter to benefit the Dru Gimlin Foundation from Quincy. Entry fees cover the cost for T-shirts for players and prizes awarded.

Parade judging begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by Grand Marshals Patrick and Dorothy Lee leading the grand procession at 10. A special parade guest will be the reigning Mrs. Washington America Deidre Murphy, wife of former Royal City resident Chris Murphy.

SummerFest Saturday is an exciting time for the kids as a good portion of Lions Park will be dotted with blow-up toys in the likes of a bungee trampoline, mechanical bull, bounce house, water slide and Orbatron. The fun begins at 11 a.m. For $3, kids will receive an arm band for all day play for the toys and laser tag. A presale of armbands is happening Thursday at the Movie in the Park, and at the Friday barbecue.

A new event for kids 12 and under this year is the “Centavos in the Hay (Straw).” Luis Contreras from US Bank will be “salting” the straw stack with more than $200 in coins for kids to find. The event will be held in a fenced area behind the New Life Fellowship Church. The schedule is as follows:

11 a.m. to 11:10 — Age 2-4

11:10 to 11:20 — Age 5-6

11:20 to 11:30 — Age 7-9

11:30 to 11:40 — Age 10-12

Another new event for the kids is Watercolor Art in the Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You will find it under the big tent at the south end of the park after the parade. Pre signups are available. Children under 6 years-old must have parental supervision.

The annual classic car show gets under way at 11 a.m., as well. The six categories to be judged are Tuner Car, Best Pickup, Best Classic 1969-1979, Best Antique before 1959, Best Late Model after 1979, and Best of Show. Trophies and door prizes for show participants will be handed out at the US Bank Parking Lot. No entry fee required. Car owners are invited to join the Grand Parade.

The fourth annual Quilt Exposition at New Life Fellowship begins at 11 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. Quilts are not judged, but there is a “People’s Choice” award in the form of a cash prize. The quilt may be a new one or one made in the past. The only stipulation is that it not have been displayed at SummerFest the previous three years.

The highly popular Dancing Horses will strut their stuff from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the fenced area behind New Life. “Watch the lyrical dancing of trained majestic steeds and their vaqueros as they “dance” to mariachi music,” SummerFest Committee Chair Cara Hoyt said. “A real treat that you just can’t get tired of watching.”

Back by popular demand is the laser tag event taking place from Noon to 5 p.m. behind New Life.

Food contests are a new twist at SummerFest this year. Categories to tantalize the taste buds are Best Salsa, Best Horchata and Best Tres Leches. Drop your entries off between 8-11 a.m. at New Life Fellowship. There will be cash prizes in each category. Winners will be announced on the Saturday stage at 3 p.m.

The SummerFest Glow Ball Golf Tournament will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Royal Golf Club. There is a $200 entry fee per team for this 4-player scramble. Golfers will play nine holes in daylight and nine holes in the dark. There will be tee prizes and food. Limited to 18 teams. Contact golf shop manager Athena Vetterick at 509-346-2052, or royalcitygolf@centurylink.net for more information.

The Inizzio Norteña Band will take the Saturday stage from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., to entertain the crowd with Latin dance music. This popular Latin group has former members of the Los Canarios group and is managed by Ana Cuevas.

“Their music will delight, and they have a great stage presence,” SummerFest Committee member Leslie Fanning said.

Other Saturday stage performances confirmed are:

Sam’s Dancers — 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Danza Folklórica de Royal City — 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The Toby Black FX Dance Group — 2 p.m.

Angelina Paloma, finalist for The Next Diva Tejana –3:15 to 4:15