Different Colorama shaping up to offer much next week

It may look different than past years, but there will be a Colorama festival this year, including a parade, a petting zoo, a rock climbing wall, a lot of giant inflatable things including a bounce house, a karaoke contest, helicopter rides, vendors, and more. 

Some of those features have come together in just the last month, one in the last week.

Missing from the list is the carnival that people have come to know over the years, and there are other challenges, as well.

"Coming into 2022, we are seeing a new year of challenges after the pandemic," Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachelle Baughman said. "Colorama's biggest concern is that it falls during Apple Blossom [festival] in Wenatchee, which means many of our regular food vendors can't come due to staffing shortages. Many of our vendors who have been able to work on both events in past years now have to choose one over the other this year. Carnival and entertainment vendors were hit hard through the pandemic, many going out of business, struggling through the state's staffing shortages, and now fuel prices. They choose to only go to larger festivals, not travel far, or can't find the staff needed. We are hoping to preserve traditions from our beloved Colorama, but for 2022, that hasn't been feasible."

The festival runs next Friday and Saturday, May 6-7. The Star will publish a complete guide to Colorama next week.

A button raffle will be held at 1 p.m. at North Dam Park on Saturday. The buttons can be purchased at store locations all over the area including the chamber office, Loepp's, Coulee Hardware, Coulee Wall Variety Store, Cafe Espresso, North Cascades Bank, STCU, Electric City Tavern, H&H, MPH Hi-Dam Bar & Grill, Voltage Coffee House, Les Schwab, Jess Ford, and more.

"Prizes are still rolling in, but we have a charcoal grill, a Washington State metal sign, gift baskets, Woodland Park Zoo tickets, Run the Dam race entries, and more!" Baughman said.

The parade down Midway Avenue in Grand Coulee will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday. 

A petting zoo will run 12-5 p.m. Friday. The vendor fair will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days; the beer garden will be open 4-10 p.m. Friday, and 12-11 p.m. Saturday; the rock climbing wall will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. Helicopter rides will be available from 2-8 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

More details will be published in next week's Star. 

Those interested in volunteering for the festival or who have other questions can contact Boughman at the chamber office at 509-633-3074.