Ephrata Parks and Rec Summer activities
Splash Zone on a Friday afternoon busy with people swimming and staying cool during the hot Basin summer. Ephrata Parks and Rec is hosting some family events at the water park this summer including a movie night and a day to bring dogs to the pool.
CALEB PEREZ/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Attendees of the previous Painting with Tanya event at the Ephrata Rec Center. The class goes step by step through the painting process and instructed by local artist Tanya Scheelke.
EPHRATA – Parks and Recreation in Ephrata is hosting a variety of events throughout the rest of the summer that are open to anyone who wants to attend.
“A lot of our free programs are nice to have. It gives access to everybody to get out and do something fun during the summer and bring community together,” said Gunnar Blankenship, Ephrata recreation supervisor. “It’s nice to have some other options outside of sports so you can have kind of something for everybody to enjoy.”
Parks and Rec is hosting Movie in the Park events until the end of the summer. The movies begin each evening at 8:45 p.m. and will be played in the parks throughout the city.
The movie series started last and weekend and continues with “Mufasa the Lion King” at Lee Park on July 26. August will feature two movies with “Moana 2” at Splash Zone on August 2 and finishing the summer with “A Bug’s Life” at Patrick Park on Aug. 23.
The movie playing at Splash Zone will be the only event where payment is necessary, as admission into the water park is required.
There will also be two free concerts held at Rock Park in Ephrata from 7-8:30 p.m. each day. Riley Franks will be playing July 25, and Miller Gold is set to play Aug. 22.
“(It’ll be a) family friendly atmosphere. All the movies are family-friendly as well,” said Blankenship. “People can bring their own chairs, blankets and snacks and it’ll be just a fun evening in the park.”
Art with Tanya is coming up this Friday at the Ephrata Rec Center gym from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This is an art class available to all ages and all art supplies will be provided to attendees. Admission is $15 for residents and $19.50 for nonresidents.
Blankenship said the class is set up to be a step-by-step painting class where the instructor, local artist Tanya Scheelke, will have a painting in mind and the class will follow along.
“Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, just everything you need to have a good art class,” he said.
Blankenship said the final event of the summer is the Paws in the Pool event, which will be held at Splash Zone on Aug. 31 for its final day of operations for the season. This event allows attendees to bring their dogs to the pool from 1-3 p.m.
“If you’re a person, you pay general admission or if you have a season pass, you can get in, but dogs get in for free,” said Blankenship.
Attendees of the previous Painting with Tanya event at the Ephrata Rec Center. The class goes step by step through the painting process and instructed by local artist Tanya Scheelke.