Memorial Day weekend activities announced

Art show, car show, alumni football game among highlights

For the seventh consecutive year, downtown Ritzville is going to be filled with excitement when it hosts the annual Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show during the Memorial Day weekend.

The show is welcoming more than 60 artists with different specialties that plan to entertain and show off their artistic masterpieces during the three day event, which runs from May 24-26.

Area residents are reminded that all of Main Avenue between Division and Adams Streets is going to be closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of the show. Washington Street is also going to be closed from the alley by the Ritzville Post Office to Railroad Avenue.

The Historic Ritzville Days Western Art Show continues to be a free show to the public and those participating in the show. The Ritzville Downtown Development Association (RDDA) sponsors the show.

A full schedule of events for the art show can be found at http://www.ritzvillewesternart.com.

Friday, May 24 - Artists’ Reception

The Artists’ Reception on Friday runs from 6-9 p.m. and serves as the kick-off event for the Memorial Day weekend festivities. The Artists Reception is held at the C. J. Newland American Legion Memorial Hall and entrance into the event costs $10.

The event is going to be catered by the Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni, and the dinner includes barbequed beef and pork, oven baked potatoes, Catalina green beans, macaroni salad, fruit salad, tossed green salad, apple pie and cheesecake. Nevada Slim & Cimarron Sue are providing live entertainment.

Alongside the entertainment and delicious food, artists are displaying their best artwork for the chance to receive the People’s Choice Award. A unique piece of art is going to be auctioned at the reception again this year. All of the artists participating in the weekend event have been asked to bring an original miniature piece of art that is going to be combined into a large collage of artwork.

Saturday, May 25 – Art Show, Alumni football game, geocaching, Ritzville Alumni Banquet, Washtucna Alumni Banquet

The first full day of entertainment kicks off with an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the Eagles Club from 8-11 a.m. with the cost of $8.50 per person. Visitors can take to the streets at 10 a.m. when the art show officially opens.

Saturday morning also marks the first geocaching contest in the city, the Ritzville Small Town Cache Cow. The geocache begins with a meet and greet at 9 a.m. at the Ritzville Public Library, and 15 new caches that go live the day of the event. At 10 a.m., an optional cache-hunting contest is available for any individual interested in partaking in another hunt.

During the art show hours, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., visitors can view Ritzville High School memorabilia at the Train Depot, wander through the art show, and children can go on pony rides and participate in the Youth Art Experience. Visitors can also view rope-making demonstrations throughout the event and audience participation is encouraged.

Toni Plastino is returning to host the Youth Art Experience program that allows children time for hands-on craft projects. The booth is located in Pioneer Plaza, where printmaking and marbling are available for all ages.

Six food vendors are scheduled to provide a variety of dining options for visitors this year. Angle Iron Ranch is serving beverages, hot dogs and sarsaparilla, and the Ralston Rangers Junior Grange plans to serve kraut runzas and more. The H.E. Gritman Senior Center also plans to open the doors to serve soup, sandwiches and dessert, with the menu subject to change based on the weather.

The Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni is providing visitors with a barbecue meal, complete with barbecue pork and beef, potato salad and baked beans. The Windy Ridge Jerky of Colville plans to serve USDA jerky and exotic meats.

At 11 a.m., the gates of Jimmie Snider Field open to welcome visitors to the Ritzville Glory Days Alumni football game, where alumni are participating in a full-pads football game. Admission for the event is $15 at the gate, or pre-order tickets can be purchased for $10 with funds supporting Bronc Boosters.

At 2:15 p.m., a select group of artists are participating in the quick draw demonstrations, where they have one hour to create a masterpiece. After the completion of the quick draw artwork, the pieces are judged and then auctioned off at 3:30 p.m. the same day.

Returning entertainment for the event is the “Legends of the West” gunfights, which are taking place 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. Other entertainment scheduled throughout the day is musical performances by

At 3 p.m., the Ritzville Art Gallery is hosting a raku firing demonstration in the alley next to the gallery.

A new display to the art show is “Funzville,” a full-model theme park display put on by 1958 Ritzville graduate Carroll Hayden. Funzville is going to be displayed in the old carpet store building, next to Sunny Spot, throughout the art show.

The day concludes with the alumni banquets in Ritzville and Washtucna. Ritzville High School alumni are invited to attend a dinner at Gilson Gymnasium at 6 p.m. with honored class pictures being taken prior to the start of the evening’s events. Washtucna High School Alumni Banquet also begins at 6 p.m. and honored classes have the opportunity to have photos taken before the banquet starts.

Sunday, May 26 – Art Show, Car Show

The Sunday events begin with Cowboy Church in Pioneer Plaza at 8 a.m. The Eagles will open the doors again for breakfast and the art show will open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.

The annual Ritzville Classic Car Show highlights Sunday activities at the Ritzville City Park from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. A free shuttle runs between the art show and the car show every hour on the hour.

Food vendors, the Youth Art Experience, pony rides, rope making demonstrations and “Legends of the West” gunfights return to the streets again Sunday to provide endless entertainment for visitors. Musical guests Sourdough Slim, Barbara Nelson, Mary Kaye Knaphus, and Nevada Slim & Cimarron Sue also return to the main stage to perform.

From 12-1 p.m., youngsters can participate in stick horse barrel races, sponsored by the Ritzville Rodeo Association.

At 12:10 p.m., youth art award winners will be announced at the main stage on Main Avenue. Also during the afternoon hours, a strolling western wear show will take place on the main stage and throughout the downtown area.

Monday, May 27 – Firemen’s Breakfast, Memorial Services

Monday serves as a time for families in the Ritzville area to relax and enjoy the complimentary Firemen’s Breakfast at the fire station on First Avenue from 7-11 a.m.

In Washtucna, a memorial service is being hosted in Washtucna Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be a prayer, various readings and an opportunity for residents to remember veterans, as well as the playing of taps.

The Ritzville memorial service begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Pastor Bill Cox is officiating the ceremony alongside speaker Ritzville Mayor Linda Kadlec. The local Color Guard plans to display the colors and those in attendance will have an opportunity to view their new attire.