Annual Colorama festival canceled

The annual early-May Colorama festival has been called off by the organizing chamber of commerce due to the uncertainties created by the coronavirus pandemic and the cancelation of a major vendor, the carnival.

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors met in special session last week, a time when preparations either had to move ahead or refunds made to vendors who had applied to work the event.

Although starting at the end of the second week in May the event would have come after the statewide emergency is set to expire, that ending is far from certain given that health experts say social distancing measures need to continue for some time.

The Colorama Rodeo has not officially been called off, yet, said Ridge Riders President George Kohout on Tuesday, but it seems likely. That decision may not come for another week, he said.