Regional Events
The entire region and the various communities offer a unique blend of small town living, local artisans, retail services, and trades that are often found in much larger communities.
The local communities have a true sense of spirit and pride. The variety of events are an indication of the diversity this region enjoys. Throughout the year many events take place in addition to those listed here.
Town & Country Days - 1st weekend of June
Kettle Falls and surrounding communities gather to participate in the annual 'Town & Country Days Celebration' which was started in 1962 by the Chamber of Commerce. The Founding father of the festival was Roy Hotchkiss, who along with his father, Roy and wife Becky, owned the Red & White Grocery Store in Kettle Falls. Roy was active in the chamber and thought that it would be a good idea to bring the "Town" and the "Country" together for a fun filled weekend to show off their wares and have some healthy competitions between the 'Townfolk' and the 'Countryfolk'
This community celebration features entertainment on the main stage, food and craft booths, 7K "Grumpy Grouch Fun Run", "Slam Jam" 3 on 3 basketball tournament, A parade down Main Street, ALA sanctioned logging events, Free kids games, car show, beer garden and the final frenzy of ballot stuffing for the elction of the "Kettle Falls Grouch", and announces Ma & Pa Kettle for the year.
Prospector Day's, Republic, WA - 2nd weekend in June
Republic is one of the oldest gold mining towns in Washington. Founders originally named the community Eureka Gulch, later changing the name to Republic. This Annual event is a celebration supporting the communities heritage and main industry, mining, and features mining events, logging events, a parade, street dance, casino night, soapbox derby, food vendors and more.
Salmon Days / Celebration of Tears
Thousands of Native Americans gathers on June 14, 1940 to mourn their loss of Kettle Falls, their ancestral fishing grounds which was to be flooded by Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River. The small island created by the split of the Columbia River was called Kettle Falls Island or sometimes Hayes island. It was about 500 acres in size. was also an island. The number of salmon taken each hear was huge and rivaled only by Celilo Falls which was also swallowed up by the 1957 Dalles Dam project. Called Shonitkwu by Salish speakers for roaring waters it was later named by European settlers Kettle Falls after the carved depressions in the rocks. A gathering point for many hundreds of years it was understandable to feel the loss of a way of life and such an important economic contribution to the Native Americans. Reports of up to 3,000 fish as day are common when the "fish were running".
Each year members of the Colville Confederated tribes gather at the Kettle Falls Historical center in rememberance of their heritage. The 2009 event was featured on CNN (click here to view the video)
Colville Panorama Pro-West Rodeo
The Colville Panorama rodeo has been held on the Father's Day holiday weekend for more than 60 years. Festivities kick of friday evening with the Bull-a-rama that allows amateurs to try their hand at bull riding before they take there seat and watch the professionals over the next days. Parade and a dance fill the weekend with excitement for all ages
Washington Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament
Held on Lake Roosevelt on the last weekend of June, this is a two person team event (limited to 100 teams). Cash awards are presented on the basis of aggregate weight of fish per team. The Governors of all states are invited to participate or send a representative team and the one-of-a-kind traveling Governors Cup is awarded to the Governor of the state placing highest among these representative teams. This is a highly popular event and teams from all over the country participate, but our local fishermen seem to do pretty well.
Chataqua, Chewelah, WA
Chataqua – the premier festival in eastern Washington – swells Chewelah’s population to 40,000 to 60,000 people or more the second full weekend of July* each year. The fun-filled activities are designed to please every member of the family; young and old alike – enjoying everything from carnival rides to a parade, food and merriment, free stage entertainment, and sports and shopping…just to name a few!
Spokane Valley Walleye Tournament - last weekend of July
New to the Kettle Falls Area in 2008, This popular tournament has moved from its home at Twin Rivers over the past years to the Kettle Falls Marina and quickly found a new home and was welcomed by the community with open arms.
Rock Cut Blues Festival - last weekend of July
Winner of the "Best Blues Event" by the Inland Empire Blues Society in 2006 and nominated numerous other occasions this event continues to attract devoted patrons for a weekend of great 'Blues'. Each year Bill and his team manage to put together a lineup of noted musicians from around the state and the country that are the envy of many other music events. (he has even had international artists join them for the weekend). a highlight each year is the 'ALL STAR JAM' where all the musicians basically party on stage together in one big 'Jam Session'.
Lake Roosevelt Summertime Music Festival
This free family event now in its fifth year and growing in popularity each year. Starting at noon and going on till midnight in the Marcus community Park the place is filled with music from local and regional bands
Marcus Cider Fest
One of the most well attended events on the calendar, this community festival hosts around 1,000 visitors annually. The Festival enjoys a relaxed, homespun atmosphere with a parade, pancake feed, music, food, arts and crafts and, the Marcus claim to fame, Fresh Apple Cider. The portable, one of a kind rival to any "Rube Goldberg" invention, cider press, responsible for the producing the delectable cider elixir, is in itself, entertaining to watch.