Soap Lake’s Suds N’ Sun brings all the fun
Smiles were contagious as members of the parade went by smiling and waving.
Rebecca Pettingill/Columbia Basin Herald
Soap Lake Police Department Chief Ryan Cox headed up efforts to bring back the Soap Box races in this year’s July 4 celebration. He personally worked on the cars to ensure they were race-ready. Fun fact: There’s a tradition that whenever an SLPD member is pictured in the paper, they have to buy the rest of the department pizza. Your turn Chief Cox and you’re welcome SLPD. The Columbia Basin Herald has made a donation to the department’s Benevolent Fund to help those in need. Keep an eye on the paper for additional information about similar traditions at departments around the Basin.
Many children leaned forward with their head down in hopes it would make them faster in order to beat their opponent.
The 2022 Soap Lake Soap Box Derby had twelve participants.
The Soap Lake Soap Box races were held on Maine Avenue East where children would travel down the hill toward the Del Red Pub where the finish line was.
Some children couldn’t help but smile as they rode down the track but others, like Langstyn Rhoads on the right, were completely focused on the finish line. Rhoads took first in the races.
From left to right, Langstyn Rhoads, who took first, Zachary Glatmaier, who took second and Kam Schluckebier, who took third in the Soap Lake Soap Box races.
Langstyn Rhoads, who took first place, with her family that was there to support her.
Many floats in the parade were tricked out with red, white and blue for Independence Day.
Royalty graced Soap Lake during the parade.
The Seattle Cossacks performed again at the end of the parade, partly due to the rain that downpoured during their initial performance. The stunt group had two SLPD officers lay on the ground with a couple of their own members as one drove their motorcycle over the top of them.
The event ended with fireworks at East Beach Park.
SOAP LAKE — The City of Soap Lake was bustling with Fourth of July fun over the weekend.
“Growing up here and stuff, you know it’s good to see Soap Lake do something; and the response we got,” said Dewey Spurbeck.
The weekend full of events kicked off on Saturday with the Soap Box time trials before the races Sunday morning.
The Soap Box Derby saw twelve participants travel down the hill on Main Avenue East. Each car was as unique as the child that rode in it. Car No. 911 was white with ‘Soap Lake Police’ written on the side and even had a flashing red and blue light.
The winner of the derby was 8-year-old Langstyn Rhoads. She rode in a purple car, No. 072, with the logo of JT Motorsports.
Rhoads was in it for family tradition and a good time, she said.
“Because it was going to be really fun and I really haven't done it, this is my first time,” Rhoads said.
It was also a family affair, many of Rhoads’s family members have participated or volunteered with the derby in the past, even going back to the very first derby held in Soap Lake.
Rhoads also eagerly said she wants to do it again next year and that her favorite part was racing.
The Derby this year was brought back and put on by Soap Lake Police Department along with volunteers and sponsors. SLPD Chief Ryan Cox, who headed up the endeavor and personally worked on each car to get it ready for the big day, said he was doing it for the children in the community.
Later that afternoon, the Seattle Cossacks performed acrobatics on motorcycles, drawing a crowd and warming them up for the parade. The parade came right after and saw vintage and muscle cars, candidates for various political races going on this year and Mrs. America royalty, Grant County Fire District No. 7 and the Cossacks even came back for round two at the end of the parade, partly due to the rain that downpoured during their initial performance.
The stunt group had two SLPD officers lay on the ground with a couple of their own members as one drove their motorcycle over the top of them.
Many people could be heard saying not only how great the parade was, but that it was the best one Soap Lake has held in years.
Both Gene Bradham and Spurbeck agreed that they thought the whole parade was great and were excited to see it continue in the years to come.
Attendees of the parade then flocked to East Beach Park where food, drink and music were abundant. There was also face painting and a couple of bounce houses during the day for children. Fireworks closed the day at 10 p.m.
“It was such a great turnout,” said former Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle. He said his favorite part of the festivities was the Cossacks.
“The best I’ve seen here,” Bradham said.
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
