Lentil Fest offers full slate of events

The 27th edition of the Lentil Festival promises a busy weekend of fun.

Events all weekend at Pullman’s Reaney Park will mark the celebrations, as will the World’s Largest Bowl of Lentil Chili.

Live music will be on hand Friday at the Hometown Chevy and BullCountry Main Stage in the park.

R&B/Soul Rock artist Megan Wilde of Seattle will kick off the evening at 5:15, followed by Atreo Graham of Federal Way at 6:30 with an acoustic pop performance. Ayron Jones & The Way of Seattle will follow at 7:45, and Tango Alpha Tango of Portland will conclude the evening at 9 p.m.

Saturday’s entertainment bill is also full, with Blake Noble of Seattle kicking off the day at noon with a mixture of percussive, acoustic funk and blues. He will be followed by country/folk artist Austin Jenckes at 1:15. Headliner Dylan Scott, a county music singer-songwriter from Bastrop, La., will conclude the festival at 2:30.

Athletic events will keep people of all ages busy and active all day.

The Tase T. Lentil 5K Fun Run sponsored by Snap Fitness starts at Reaney Park at 7:30. The Tour de Lentil Half Century, Century and Century-and-a-half bike ride loops through the Palouse area begin at 8 a.m.

At 9 a.m., the 3-on-3 Hoop Classic basketball tournament sponsored by Wysup Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram will keep the youngsters busy, while the co-ed softball tournament sponsored by ProFormance Physical Therapy at the city playfields will keep the fun going all day.

The Tase T. Lentil Miniature Golf Tournament, a new event, will take place at the Airway Hills Golf Center in Pullman Friday-Sunday.

There’s more fun to be had with the Lentil Festival Grand Parade beginning at 11 a.m. with a march down Grand Avenue and up Main Street before it finishes at Reaney Park. The parade will feature the Little Lentil Sprouts, who will lead the way, and include the Lentil Express, rodeo queens, Distinguished Young Women, Tase T. Lentil and much more.

Several cooking demonstrations will teach festival-goers how to cook with lentils.

The Ask-the-Experts panel is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and cooking demos begin at 11 a.m. Saturday and conclude at 2 p.m.

The Legendary Lentil Cook-Off will also be Saturday. The top five finalists, chosen earlier this summer, from the 109 recipes submitted will prepare their recipes and present them before a panel of judges and 100 festival-goers Saturday afternoon.

The Lentil Land Kid’s Area sponsored by Moscow and Pullman Building Supply will be open Friday from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday from 12-5 p.m.