Summerfest hits Royal City with a bang
Emry Dinman/Columbia Basin Herald Kids and adults alike tried their hand at the wheelbarrow race, often dragging or dropping their partners along past the finish line.
Emry Dinman/Columbia Basin Herald Dressed in complimentary Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty costumes, Gary and Leslie Fanning were grand marshals for the 2018 Royal City Summerfest.
ROYAL CITY — Hundreds arrived in Royal City over the weekend for this year's Summerfest, themed “Stars, Stripes, and Royal Knights.” Events galore greeted attendees, from live music to activities for children.
New to the festival this year was the Seattle Cossacks Motorcycle Drill & Stunt Team, which brings the group coordination of a drill team to the burly mechanical prowess of a motorcycle gang, all with a uniform homage to the excellent horsemanship of those southern Russians, the Cossacks.
Saturday morning kicked off with a bang, with both the Kiddie and Grand parades coursing their way through town.
While adults might have had 21-and-over fun at the Royal City Moose Lodge beer garden, kids were king at this year's Summerfest. Activities ranged widely, from finding money hidden in a pile of straw to play with butter slime, a dairy-free, putty-like mixture of glue, clay and food coloring. For those looking for edible fats, the flaky crusts from Pies by Ronna did the trick.
Kids and adults alike took part in the wheelbarrow race, dropping and dragging their partners over the finish line, all to the quirky and comedically-timed tune of Dale Roth, who DJed throughout Friday night.
Local women sung classic hits, like Elvis' “Can't Help Falling in Love,” and Doris Day's “Dream A Little Dream Of Me.” Dancers shook their way through Royal City's Lion's Park both days, from area children dubbed Sam's Dancers, the Royal City high school dance team and the group Dance FX, directed by Toby Black.
Saturday's festivities were threaded with Latin-inspired music and entertainment, from Mariachi and Banda bands to Sol y Luna Ballet Folklórico, a folkloric ballet style involving a colorful cast of weaving dancers. Before the human dancers hit the stage, dancing horses trotted gaily through Lion's Park to the delight of children in attendance.
About 150 kids and parents lined up in front of the Royal City Confluence Health Clinic Friday night for the annual Glow Run. Hundreds of glow stick bracelets and necklaces hurtled through town as runners sped around the park. This year's Glow Run asked participants to “Be a Shiny Light for Diana Lester, Cancer Warrior.”
Keeping up with the glow in the dark theme, the Royal City Public Golf Course hosted a GlowBall Golf Tournament Saturday.
As both days wore on, dragonflies filled the fields after the sun had begun to set, alighting on the grass before turning their kaleidoscope eyes to the summery pop of fireworks overhead.