Summer Guide 2019: Free events
FREE EVENTS
ONGOING:
Green Bluff – Over 35 farms, orchards, wineries and breweries. Pick your own produce or buy at the farms. June/July - Strawberry Celebration; July - Cherry Season and Cherry Pickers Trot (July 18); August - Peach Season; Sept. and Oct. - Apple Festival. Free admission. http://greenbluffgrowers.com/
Free Tours of Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center – Visit the Coughlin Theater, the Woldson Recial Hall and the Myrtle Woldson Collection. Reservations are required. Wednesdays, 8-11 a.m., July 10 and 24 and Aug. 7; and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m., June 27, July 18, Aug. 1 and 15. Call 509-313-4776 or email mwpac@gonzaga.edu.
Farmers Markets – Mondays: Hillyard Farmers Market, 3-6 p.m., 5102 N. Market St.; Tuesdays: Fairwood Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., 319 W. Hastings Road; Cheney Farmers Market, cancelled for the season; Wednesdays: Spokane Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 10 W. Fifth Ave.; Millwood Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., Dalton at Marguerite in Millwood; Kootenai County Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m., Sherman Avenue at Fifth Street, Coeur d’Alene; Kendall Yards Market, 5-9 p.m., 1335 W. Summit Parkway. Thursdays: Perry Street Market, 3-7 p.m., The Shop, 924 S. Perry St.; Fridays: Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market, 3-7 p.m., 2310 N. Monroe St.; Spokane Valley Farmers Market, 5-8 p.m., CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place. Saturdays: Spokane Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 10 W. Fifth Ave.; Liberty Lake Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 1421 N. Meadowood Lane; Kootenai County Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Highway 95 at Prairie Ave., Hayden, ID. Free admission.
Historic Walking Tour – Saturdays through August leaving at 10 a.m. and noon. Meet at the Humana Booth by the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park for a free 1.5 hour walk and be lead through the newly revitalized Riverfront Park where the city’s past and present merge. Learn the rich history of the magnificent Spokane Falls, Expo ’74 U.S. Pavilion, 1902 Clocktower, 1909 Looff Carrousel, Centennial Trail and more. 509-625-6600. https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane/calendar/2019/06/29/historic-walking-tours/
Free Heritage Walk – Self-guided walking tour downtown of over 50 historic buildings, homes and monuments beautifully restores. Pick up a printed brochure at the Visitor Information Center located near the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park. Free. 509-625-6600. https://www.visitspokane.com/about/visitor-information/
Free Spokane Sculpture Walk – self-guided walking tour through Riverfront Park. Visit the Garbage Eating Goat – yes, it really eats your garbage! – continue along the Spokane River on the Centennial Trail towards the University District for dozens of other art installations. 509-625-6600. https://www.visitspokane.com/things-to-do/free-things-to-do/
Free Horse and Carriage Rides – Enjoy the sights of downtown Spokane from a horse-drawn carriage, Fridays through Sundays from 5-9 p.m. Pick up is at 221 N. Wall St., across from Wheatland Bank ATM. Ride last about 15 minutes and can hold up to eight adults. http://downtownspokane.org/event/free-horse-carriage-rides/2019-05-31/
Riverfront Park – 100-acre park located in downtown Spokane. Travel in a cabin on the Skyride over the Spokane River for spectacular views, ride a horse on the enclosed 1909 Looff Carrousel, rent skates or a scooter at the Skate Ribbon, try out the Spider Jump, rent a pedal kart with easy access throughout the park, slide down the world’s largest radio flyer, Spokane’s Red Wagon. (Free skate and scooter rentals from 1-3 p.m. on Sundays through August.) 509-625-6600. Free admission to the park. my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane/
JUNE
Hoopfest – Free viewing. Largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world that began in 1990. Nearly 6,000 players of all ages and abilities play 14,000 games on 422 courts on the downtown streets of Spokane over two days. June 29-30. www.spokanehoopfest.net
Free Outdoor Movies in Riverfront Park – Held Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. in the Lilac Bowl, east of the Clocktower. June 12: Benny & Joon (PG); June 19: Zootopia (PG). 509-625-6600. https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane/calendar/2019/07/10/wsecu-movies-in-the-park/
JULY
Free Outdoor Movies in Pavillion Park – July 3, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World; July 6, Ralph Breaks the Internet (Half Moon Park); July 13, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; July 20, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; July 27, The Kid Who Would Be King. Movies start at dusk. 727 N. Molter Road, Liberty Lake. www.pavillionpark.org
4th of July Fireworks –
Riverfront Park: live music starts at noon, craft and food vendors, beer garden, group performances, and watch amazing fireworks shot over the Spokane River at 10 p.m.
Liberty Lake: live music by The Rub and Tuxedo Junction at 6 p.m. and fireworks at dusk.
Coeur d’Alene: Watch the American Heroes Parade at 10 a.m. along Sherman Avenue, live music and food at CdA City Park and spectacular fireworks over Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Coeur d’Alene Casino and Resort Hotel: live music, food and a fireworks display at 10 p.m. in Worley.
Northern Quest Casino: Family-friendly celebration with a kids zone with outdoor bouncy houses, air slide, face painting and fireworks at 10 p.m., Airway Heights. 509-625-6600.
Free Outdoor Movies in Riverfront Park – Held Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. in the Lilac Bowl, east of the Clocktower. July 10: Back to the Future (PG); July 17: The Big Lewbowski (R);
July 24: Ralph Breaks the Internet (PG). 509-625-6600. https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane/calendar/2019/07/10/wsecu-movies-in-the-park/
Chewelah Chataqua – July 12-14, from 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Chewelah City Park. Arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides, parade, food, stage entertainment. Held second full weekend. Free admission. 509-935-8991. http://www.chewelahchataqua.com/chataqua/
Post Falls Festival – July 12-14. Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., with showing of Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom at 9 p.m.; Saturday starts with parade at 10 a.m. and activities until 8 p.m., Sunday has worship service at 10 a.m. and festival concludes at 4 p.m. Q’emiln Park, 12201 W. Parkway Drive, Post Falls. Free admission. https://www.postfallsidaho.org/departments/parks-recreation/post-falls-festival/
South Perry Street Fair – Multiple blocks of street vendors, a main stage and side stage for music, food trucks, a kids fair, July 20, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Free admission. www.southperry.org
Free Movie at Valley Mission Park – Presented by Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department, “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” July 26 at dusk, 11123 E. Mission Ave., Spokane Valley. http://www.spokanevalley.org/moviesinthepark
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks – Presents The Merry Wives of Windsor, July 28, 5-7 p.m., Pavillion Park, 727 N. Molter Road, Liberty Lake. Free. www.pavillionpark.org
Hillyard Festival & Parade – Aug. 2-4, H-Jinx Parade and Roll ‘N’ Hillyard Car Show, live entertainment, beer garden, fireworks. Hillyard Skate Park on Market. Free admission. 509-270-1569. http://www.hillyardfestival.com/
AUGUST
Barefoot in the Park – Aug. 2-3. Friday with pickleball, car show, beer garden and live music by Cover 2 Cover; Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. with pickleball tournament, family fun activities, dog agility demos, drone racing, beer garden and live music, 5-9 p.m. Free admission into park. Pavillion Park, 727 N. Molter Road, Liberty Lake. www.pavillionpark.org
Art on the Green – Aug. 2-4. More than 165 artists along with a variety of musicians showcase their talents. Friday, noon-10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., on the grounds of North Idaho College, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free admission. http://artonthegreencda.com/
Coeur d’Alene Street Fair – Aug. 2-4. 28th annual event. Over 250 vendors of food, fine art, crafts and more along Sherman Avenue in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. (208) 415-0116. http://www.cdadowntown.com/streetfair/
Taste of Coeur d’Alene – Aug. 2-4. Outdoor fine art and crafts festival, variety of foods, beverages. Friday, noon-8:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Coeur d’Alene City Park, Coeur d’Alene. Free admission. https://www.panhandlekiwanis.org/taste-of-cda.html
Rendezvous Days - Aug. 2-3. Live entertainment, crafts, food, classic car show, encampment and more. Colville City Park, Colville. Free admission. www.colvillerendzvous.org
CdA Triathlon – Free viewing of the Olympic, Sprint and Duathlon competitions with a “deep water start” for the Olympic swim portion. Aug 10. Coeur d’Alene. www.cdatriathlon.com
Free Outdoor Movies in Pavillion Park – Aug. 10, Incredibles 2; Aug. 16, The Lego Movie 2 (River Rock Park); Aug. 17, Mary Poppins Returns; Aug. 30, Black Panther. Movies start at dusk. 727 N. Molter Road, Liberty Lake. www.pavillionpark.org
Free Outdoor Movies in Riverfront Park – Held Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. in the Lilac Bowl, east of the Clocktower. August 7: Wizard of Oz (G); August 14: Space Balls (PG); August 21: Toy Story (PG). 509-625-6600. https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontspokane/calendar/2019/07/10/wsecu-movies-in-the-park/
Free Movie at Mirabeau Point Park – Presented by Spokane Valley Parks and Recreation Department, “Mary Poppins Returns,” Aug. 9 at dusk, 13948 E. Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane Valley. http://www.spokanevalley.org/moviesinthepark
National Lentil Festival - Aug. 16-17. food and brew fest. Friday, 5-11 p.m., starting with free chili from the world’s largest bowl, live cooking demo, live music; Saturday starts at 7:30 a.m. with Tase T. Lentil 5K race, 8 a.m. a lentil pancake breakfast, Grand Parade at 11 a.m. along Main Street, cooking demos, live music and Lentil Chili Cook-off a 3 p.m. Festival ends at 5 p.m. Spring Street and Reaney Park, Pullman. Free admission. www.lentilfest.com
Airway Heights Days - Aug. 16-17. Live entertainment, car show, kids zone, petting zoo, outdoor movie, watermelon races. Free admission. Sunset Park, Airway Heights.
Unity in the Community – Multi-cultural celebration with career. education and health fair, cultural village, free school supplies for grades K-8, free kids helmets (while supplies last), live entertainment, senior resource area, Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. Riverfront Park Clocktower. www.nwunity.org
Art and Glass Fest - Dozens of local artists showcase their work. Aug. 24, noon-5 p.m. Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, 4705 N. Fruit Hill Road, Spokane Valley. www.arborcrest.com. Free admission. (509) 927-9463.
Gathering at the Falls Powwow– Aug. 24-26. Celebration of Native American arts and culture, past and present, with grand entries, dancing, drumming, singing, exhibitions and competitions. Riverfront Park, Lilac Bowl. Weekend before Labor Day weekend. Free admission. https://www.visitspokane.com/events/summer-events/gathering-at-the-falls-powwow/
Pig Out in the Park – Aug. 28-Sept. 2, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 40th annual food and free music festival. 50 food booths, 3 beer gardens, 3 stages with free concerts. Starts Wednesday before Labor Day. Riverfront Park. Free admission. 509-921-5579. http://www.spokanepigout.com/
Spokane Symphony at Liberty Lake- Lud Kramer Memorial concert. Bring a picnic, blanket and enjoy this free outdoor concert. Aug. 31, 6-8 p.m., Pavillion Park, 727 N. Molter Road, Liberty Lake. www.pavillionpark.org