Get Set For A Big Valleyfest

Valleyfest is just around the corner and organizers are hoping this Saturday’s celebration is the biggest and best ever.

More than 26,000 people attended last year’s event, director Peggy Doering said. She’s counting on that number going up.

The Valleyfest Foundation selected Sue Delucchi to be this year’s grand marshal. Delucchi originated Valleyfest seven years ago. The foundation thought choosing her would bring out even more residents who remember all the work Delucchi did.

“She had the insight that we needed to bring the community together,” said Doering. It’s the one and only event that brings the whole Valley together, she said.

Leading Saturday’s big celebration will be a parade, complete with an all-Valley-resident band. At 9 a.m., the parade will begin at Keystone Elementary on McDonald Road and end at Terrace View Park, the event’s site.

In the park’s parking lot, there’ll be lots of big trucks, police cars and ambulances for everyone to tour. The Spokane hydroplane also will be on display.

Nestled along the perimeter of the park will be art and crafts booths with vendors selling homemade goodies and wares. Other booths will be set up by the Postal Service, library and local churches, schools and hospitals. All the booths will have a free activity such as face painting or bubble blowing for the children.

Jumping castles, batting cages and a football-throwing contest also will be at the park for the kids and the young at heart.

“The heart of this whole event is the camaraderie and the friendliness of it,” said Peggy Doering, this year’s director.

There’ll also be a ton of entertainment for fest-goers. The Spokane Children’s Theater will perform “Tom Sawyer.” The Wild Rose Ramblers and Rose Buds will keep the crowd square dancing. A Spokane Symphony concert will be the grand finale to the event.

, DataTimes MEMO: Check this Saturday’s Valley Voice for more Valleyfest coverage and a schedule of events.