Fun day in Mattawa: Plenty to see and do at Wahluke Community Day

MATTAWA — A car show, a parade with copious amounts of candy, dancing horses, a soccer tournament, a three-on-three basketball tournament, a fun run, an all-community breakfast and an oversized Jenga game.

There was a lot to do and see at the 2021 Wahluke Community Day on Saturday.

The town celebration was canceled in 2020, and underwent some changes for 2021. Along with the addition of the Show and Shine Car Show, the activities were moved to the Wahluke High School campus at 505 N. Boundary Road. The Wahluke School District and Port of Mattawa were the sponsors.

There were about 60 cars in the WHS parking lot as of midmorning Saturday, and they were still coming in. Community day co-organizer Olga Sanchez said she had no idea how many cars were entered.

But on Tuesday, she said the show had attracted more than 100 cars.

“We were blown away. What a great turnout,” she said.

Drivers came from Wenatchee and Moses Lake, Yakima and Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, and even some from Mattawa.

Miguel Ramos, of Mattawa, brought his low-rider. He drives it around town, but carefully, he said.

“It scrapes a lot,” he said. “It bounces a lot.”

The WHS parking lot was full of cool rides, from some vintage 1930s cars to reimagined 1970s and 1980s sedans to modern pickups. Roger Jennings, of Basin City, brought his Dodge muscle car, which he’s had for 26 years.

“Actually my wife bought it for me,” he said.

He’s worked on it over the years, trying to make it look like it did when it drove out of the dealership, he said.

There was also a contest to find the best salsa in Mattawa, a friendly competition, said Lucy Tapia, who was running the contest. It didn’t draw as many entries as the car show, but every entry was high quality, according to the people who tasted them.

Riders of the dancing horses appeared in the parade, and later brought their horses to WHS. Yumari Prudente, of Othello, and Nancy Madrigal, of Mattawa, were there with their dads, and both said it’s not an organized group of riders. They just get together for fun, they said.

Led by grand marshal Donna Ziegler – who is retiring as the WSD transportation director, after more than 25 years with the district -- the parade featured floats, ambulances and fire trucks from Grant County Fire District 8, the WHS football team, equipment from local farms and plenty of candy flying through the air.

The lawn at WHS was filled with booths, some with games to play, others offering information. And many sports teams and WHS clubs were selling food, along with some community organizations, for anybody who got hungry.

The girls soccer team was selling tacos, made by the parents of a team member. The Wahluke FFA chapter was offering pulled pork sandwiches. Mattawa Community Medical Clinic had hot dogs and nachos. The WHS football team wrapped their hot dogs in bacon. People who wanted dessert could hit the bake sale sponsored by the WHS girls basketball team.