Let’s Valleyfest

Visitors to Valleyfest this weekend will find plenty to do for all ages, from 155 booths, food and multistage entertainment to the newest attraction – hot air balloons – weather permitting.

It all kicks off 7 p.m. Friday with the Hearts of Gold Parade, running along Sprague Avenue between Pines and University roads.

“The parade has over 100 entries this year,” said Valleyfest chairwoman Peggy Doering. “Make sure you come early and pick out your spot.”

Early birds also can learn the best viewing sites Saturday and Sunday mornings for the hot air balloon launches. Pilot briefings are scheduled for 6 a.m. inside CenterPlace to determine if wind conditions call for launch at Liberty Lake or CenterPlace.

“We’ll have seven fantastic balloons over the Valley,” added Doering. “It’s a rally and there will be marks across the Valley. The pilots come in with a bag to hit a target. They have to come down low.”

Free STA bus shuttles starting at 8:30 a.m. will run only on Saturday this year from the Valley Mall and other locations to Mirabeau Point Park, the central location of the 19th annual Valleyfest. The all-volunteer organization was not able to find a sponsor for Sunday buses, Doering said. However, she added that plenty of parking should be available nearby in the Pinecroft Business Park east of Pines Road.

A separate Spokane Valley Senior Center van will roll 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with stops at Safeway’s Mission and Argonne store, the Opportunity Presbyterian Church and Joe’s Sports store. The senior center shuttle will transport people to a full day of activities, including a dance with Six-Foot Swing Band.

“We’ve got the party bus for the senior center,” Doering said. “All you have to do is put on your dancing shoes and go.”

On the nearby Centennial Trail, the 9 a.m. Run for a Cause on Saturday is focused on world hunger, Doering said, with an eye to the potato as an international food staple.

“The run benefits the Spokane Valley Food Bank and is based on the International Year of the Potato, bringing focus to world hunger. They’re looking at the potato as a cure for world hunger because it’s resistant to disease and uses less land and water.”

“We’re really going big with the potato this year.”

One of the hot air balloons has a potato plant theme, and a booth will offer a potato bar with all the fixings sponsored by the Washington Potato Commission – donating 3,000 spuds – and Yokes. All of the hot potato proceeds will go to the food bank.

Also on Saturday, the popular classic car show will be back, along with a fishing event for kids at the falls.

A 10 a.m. Sunday nondenominational church service will be held in the park. Most booth and activities run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

A new event on Sunday welcomes the dogs – responsibly. Only well-behaved, vaccinated canines on a leash are welcomed for Sunday’s dog activities hosted by the Spokane Kennel Club. Dogs can attend training clinics and owners can see K-9 demonstrations. Local animal shelter workers will be on hand to answer questions and have dogs available for on-the-spot adoptions.

The all-new Literacy Outreach on Saturday and Sunday will expose families to the joys of reading, storytelling and imagination building. A huge teepee will host guest storytellers. Kids get to pick up a free book on the way out.

One of those storytellers is Cliff SiJohn, with the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort, telling Native American stories. Children also get to see favorite book characters, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog. Families can sign up for library cards, watch the Theatre Arts for Children perform 10-minute plays and see Gymboree’s baby sign language.

Other entertainment includes cultural dance groups, Loggingfest, cowboy poetry, kid activities and new sport demonstrations such as speedminton. Several musicians perform both days, including The Sammy Eubanks Band, Smash Hit Carnival and Nobody Famous, a Jimmy Buffet tribute.

Contact correspondent Treva Lind by e-mail at