Palouse Days right around the corner

PALOUSE - Palouse Days is just around the corner bringing another year of community fun and camaraderie next weekend.

A Kickoff Party with live music at the Palouse Caboose at 7 p.m. will set the weekend of fun into motion Friday, Sept. 12.

Following Friday night music comes the Lion's Club annual pancake breakfast starting at 6:20 a.m. - 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, in Hayton Green Park, 102 Idaho Road.

Starting at 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. attendees also have the chance to view the Palouse Memorabilia Display from the Don and Teresa Myott Collection and Letterpress Printing Demonstration at the Newspaper Museum, 110 East Main Street.

There will also be a Quilt Show at the Palouse Community Center, 220 East Main Street and the Palouse Days Car Show hosted by the Lions Club at the park are taking place.

The Palouse Lions Club Show and Shine Car Show is a rain or shine event and all makes and models are welcome.

Trophies are awarded to each winner in the 25 categories and categories include motorcycles, rat rods, pre-75s trailers and RVs.

Starting at 10 a.m. the Lions Club will have burgers downtown and the Palouse Parade and Kiddie Parade will take place on Main Street.

Member of the Palouse Arts Council Shishona Turner said the parade line-up is between 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. with it starting at 10 a.m.

Turner said the new Chamber President Jim Kusznir stepped into the position right before Palouse Days last year.

"This year the Chamber is open with the way events are happening," said Kusznir, noting that anyone can host one and he is mostly in charge of the parade.

Kusznir will be in the parade on a float featuring his business IFM Fiber Internet which offers Fiber Internet to Palouse and Oakesdale.

"We're not requiring any registration, so if someone wants to put on an event they can," he said. "We don't even necessarily know all the events that are going to be there."

"Right after the parade is done is usually when the egg toss is," said Turner, noting that the annual duck raffle will take place.

Other events happening at 10 a.m. include the cake walk, dunk tank, the Palouse Goose Scavenger Hunt and the Palouse Fitness Pull-Up Fundraiser.

"We're working on a kid's zone," said Turner, adding Palouse City Hall Clerk and citizen Jamie Gaber is spearheading the imagination station.

"It's a craft station for anybody to show up and do some art," said Turner, noting that participants don't have to bring anything but can donate.

"It's basically just trying to create stuff," she said, adding that it will be located in the Kid's Zone.

TLC Veterinary is hosting a Family Feud 11:30 a.m. at the TLC Animal Clinic, 315 East Main Street, followed at noon by the Pull-Up Competition at Palouse Fitness.

Turner said the Vikotics will be doing their robotics presentations in Heritage Park, 201 East Main Street.

"Vendors are welcome to come set up on Main Street. The guidelines are on the chamber website," she said.

Taking place again this year is the the Scavenger Hunt centered around Lucy the Palouse Toulouse Goose who belongs to Ridge Farms, Jessica Smith.

Turner said Lucy was a lost goose that the city called into see if she belonged to anyone when she showed up at the City Hall.

"She had taken herself on a journey," said Turner, in regard to Lucy the Goose.

Turner said the event had six stops for kids to do that had stamps last year.

"It was pretty fun," she said. "I think we're going to try to continue the tradition."

The annual Heidi Keen Classic Barley Bar Relay is taking place 2 p.m., on Main Street.

Relay Coordinator Carly Schoepflin started overseeing the event in 2021 and starting running in the event in 2013.

Schoepflin said that the event is a race that started in approximately 2011 by Palouse resident and Washington State University Grad student Heidi Keen who was pursuing her PHD in Animal Science.

"Keen unfortunately passed away in 2013, and following her passing it was determined to name the race in her honor," said Schoepflin.

Proceeds from the race and sponsorships benefit young women graduating Garfield-Palouse who intend to pursue an education in STEM related fields.

"There's a loop that starts in downtown Palouse, and you run just under a mile," said Schoepflin, "Each person runs just under a mile and then when they get back to the starting line they drink a beer while gasping for air."

This year, Schoepflin said they are adding options for people who are not drinkng alcohol and gluten-free options.

There are now opening for runners, 15 and older, and there is a second race that will accommodate non-alcoholic beverages.

The race starts and ends in front of the Palouse Caboose and interested runners with teams of four can register the day of or online at runsignup.com/barleybar.com.

For the cost of registration teams will receive the beer and a commemorative T-shirt.

"I am personally biased, but it is my favorite event," said Schoepflin.

"I'm excited to see it happen," said Kusznir. "I'm gonna be there, and I am gonna be there all day," he said.

To end the festivities, Palouse Days attendees can gather at the Palouse Caboose for a night cap of live music.