Port of Whitman will host 'Snake River Family Festival'

The Port of Whitman County is in the process of planning a new event to bring more attention to the river system. The Snake River Family Festival has been scheduled for Saturday, May 20.

“It's just to highlight the multipurpose river system that we believe is important to us,” said Linda Olson, Port secretary.

The event will educate the public on the importance of the Snake and Columbia River system. There will be vendors, food, live music and other activities, Olson said.

The festival will be at Boyer Park and Marina. An informational flyer states the importance of the river system. It lists “tremendous progress” in salmon recovery, navigation provided by the Snake River locks and dams connecting Idaho, Oregon and Washington farmers, clean hydropower and the river being a “key driver” of tourism and on-water recreational opportunities.

Olson said the Port right now wants to get the word out about the event so the public is aware it is coming up. She said the idea first came up about a year ago, but it was delayed until this year so that it could be planned out.

“It was a brain child of the Washington, Oregon and Idaho Wheat Growers,” she said. “We were contacted somehow and put in charge of it.”

The hope is that it will be an annual event, with a different group being in charge of it every year.

“It's not only about educating the public about the system, but it also brings awareness to the true facts about the system, ” Olson said.

The event is free to the public and will have music and displays with information relating to the river system.

Vendors Joseph's Grainery, Hinrichs, Palouse Brand, Papé Machinery and others will be on hand. Olson said activities for youngsters will include a bouncy house and an interactive salmon display, titled “Fin the Migrating Salmon.”

A Facebook page has been set up for the event: [email protected].