Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The bobbers dip along Hangman Creek, the eggs are stacked and chilled. The air conditioner hums at the Empire Theatre. Chris Smith raises a megaphone to his lips.
The 89th Slippery Gulch Festival has arrived in Tekoa.
Beginning Monday with the fishing derby – for which all week kids catch fish in Hangman Creek and take them to Tekoa Hardware to be weighed for prizes – the celebration culminates Friday and Saturday with a full schedule of events.
With an ‘80s-based theme for 2017, the 30-year class of ‘87 will mark the parade and the Empire Theater will feature a “Gong Show” - with an open dress rehearsal Friday at 6 p.m. and the main show Saturday at 2 p.m.
More new events for this year include Spokane comedian Michael Glassmeyer at 7 p.m. Friday at C&D’s followed by a D.J. and dancing.
Tekoa High School boosters will put on a freethrow tournament Friday at the outdoor basketball court from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. A trick shot tournament will start Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Also new, the Tekoa Equine 4-H club will offer pony rides and a barbecue at the rodeo grounds at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday begins at 7 a.m. with the bike race on dirt, mud and gravel at the John Wayne Pioneer Trail entrance at Washington Street. The courses will run 2.5 miles, 10 or 22 miles. The Chamber breakfast starts at 8 a.m. at the high school, running until 10:30 a.m.
The Tekoa ambulance will sponsor carriage rides throughout the day Saturday.
The annual duck race will move from Hangman Creek to a video screen at C&D’s event center during the Saturday night dance. JamShack from St. Maries is the featured band for the adults’ dance which was moved from the Headley Building for this year. The dance begins at 9 p.m.
Fireworks will light off from the baseball field at 10 p.m.
A reception for all Tekoa High School classes of the ‘80s will be at the community center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. complete with ‘80s trivia.
Can you name the Dream Academy’s one hit from 1986?
“There’s lots going on all day; something for everyone,” said Melinda Wilkins, co-chair of the Slippery Gulch Committee.
Also Saturday, the kiddie parade starts at 10:30 a.m. followed by the grand parade at 11 a.m., with longtime master of ceremonies Chris Smith on the loudspeaker.
Gary and Sally Heaton are the grand marshals.
Tekoa queen Kylee Jenneskens and princess Alison Kalmes will ride on the town’s “Bee Happy” float. Also featured will be a salute to veterans and the 50-year grads of 1967.
At 12:15, the renowned Slippery Gulch egg toss begins, with competitors spanning the arc of Crosby Street downtown.
On Friday night the Healthy Tekoa Coalition will host a teen lock-in from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. at the grade school.
Kids games will start in the Lower Park Saturday at 1:30 p.m. A softball game will be held at the park at 5 p.m. In addition, the town pool, museum, library and golf course will be open all day.
‘Gong show’
at the Empire
The Slippery Gulch “Gong Show” at the Empire will be Saturday, June 17, at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults $7, $5 for children and those younger than five are free.
The show is based on the national network program of the 1970s which combines talented performers and those of dubious talent. The show is a judged talent contest with outlandish acts competing for prizes. If any judge considers an act to be particularly bad (after 20 seconds) he or she could force it to stop by striking a large . Any act that survives without being gonged will be given a score by each of the three judges on a scale of 0 to 10, for a maximum possible score of 30. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place talent as well as the Most Outrageous Act.
The Tekoa show will feature many characters who appeared as regular performers on the T.V. show. They will include: The “Unknown Comic,” a stand-up comedian who told intentionally corny jokes while wearing a paper bag over his head, and “Gene Gene the Dancing Machine", a heavy-set, middle-aged man wearing a warm-up suit and flat hat.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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