Festival of America 2023

Fireworks will follow the laser light show

Rocketman Pyro will blast an array of explosives off the top of Grand Coulee Dam. Not everyone can say that.

The company that started up in order to offer an alternative pyrotechnic displayer based in Spokane has pulled this off on July 4 for several years and promises another astounding show.

“We’re going to have another

huge fireworks again this year,” said Rachel Anderson, festival coordinator for the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce.

STCU has sponsored the fireworks again this year for $15,000.

The pyrotechs with Rocketman will spend all day on top of the dam lining up arrays of

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fireworks along the length of the bridge that crosses the top of it. They’ll start lighting them off

right after the One River, Many Voices laser light show, at about 10 p.m.

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At nearly a mile across, Grand Coulee Dam provides a spectacular place from which to launch a giant fireworks display. Below, a crowd thinned out from rain in 2022 watches as an image of Coyote makes its way across the 300-foot-tall spillway on the face of Grand Coulee Dam, preceding the fireworks show

Festival to open with flag ceremony

The American Legion Post 57 and Boy Scout troops will open the Festival of America this year with a ceremonial color march of the American Flag in the park below the Visitor Center, a first for the festival, said festival coordinator Rachel Anderson.

Anderson, herself, is scheduled to sing the National Anthem at the event.

The event opens at 10 a.m. July 4 and will close by 11 p.m.

Inflatables to return

Kids will be able to play on the big inflatables again this year, Anderson said, having secured an agreement with a vendor to bring them in.

Relaxing in the park in front of Grand Coulee Dam, playing games, grabbing a bite to eat, shopping with vendors, enjoying the music, and watching the kids on the inflatables are on offer for spending a good portion of your holiday before the laser and fireworks take the scene.

The One River, Many Voices laser show can be seen any night of the week at the dam.

People relax in front of waterfalls on the dam as pyrotechnicians work on top setting up the fireworks show for the evening.

Vendors to look over in the park

The Festival of America on Tuesday, July 4, will again feature vendors in the park below the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam.

The chamber of commerce is still in the process of accepting applications, but a Tuesday holiday means the arts and crafts/ vendor fair will apparently be smaller this year, with 15 vendors scheduled to offer their wares and fare.

Here’s a list of those who are coming so far:

Moonshine Organics

Rustic Rose Leatherworks

Arvik Reese

Our Little Lavender

Company

Leaf Guard of Spokane

Art To Suit You

ECKANKAR in Spokane

Henna Me Pretty

STCU

A & J Krafty Kreations

Zambalha

Food Vendors include: Inland Empire

Concessions

KM Enterprises

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A couple shops for children’s clothing at the Festival of America in 2022.

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A tower of Jenga blocks falls as a family plays during the Festival of America in 2022.

Four bands to entertain at Festival of America

Judas Priest, Santana tribute bands will headline event

Two tribute bands will top off the musical evening on July 4 at the Festival of America with the music of giants Santana and Judas Priest.

The lasting popularity of those bands anchors an industry that now includes a host of cover bands proffering their music.

Two of the best of those bands will be playing the Lower Visitor Center Park July 4, thanks to the sponsored support of the 12 Tribes Casino at Coulee Dam, according to Rachel Anderson, who has been organizing chamber of commerce events all year, including the Festival of America.

Earlier in the day, Jerry Lee Raines, from Spokane, will play and sing from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a mix of covers he delivers, self-accompanied on guitar or keyboard. We got good vibes from his performances last year.

A Coulee City metal band will follow with a couple sets from 2-4 p.m., playing some of their own originals, like “Bigfootin’”, — oh yeah, Bigfootin’ — and more. That one is a little bluesish down-home metal.

ute to the Music of Santana” on the West Coast.

Music Schedule

Jerry Lee Raines 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Mystic Plowmen 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Soul Sacrifice 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Judas Rising NW Chapter 8 p.m.

Soul Sacrifice bills itself as the “#1 Award Winning Premier Trib-

To bring the eight-piece band, the chamber needed to find a bigger stage, Anderson said. They’ll command that stage from 5-7 p.m. with the Latin rhythms and unforgettable guitar riffs of Carlos Santana. Don’t turn your back on them, baby.

“Soul Sacrifice performs these songs with a passion and joy that engulfs the audience in the entire atmosphere of Santana’s music,” their website claims.

Judas Rising Northwest Chapter takes the stage at 8 p.m. to play the music of Judas Priest, the metal band that evolved into one of the premier acts of the ’80s and into

the ’90s.

“We are fans of everything Judas Priest, and deliver a blistering, high octane, live experience,” the band wrote on their Bandmix site. That mix includes covers of songs like Sinner, Beyond the Realms of Death, Hell Bent for Leather and more.

AMERICAN FLAGS of all sizes, plus poles and brackets

PATRIOTIC BUNTING AND YARD ART stars & stripes windsocks and garden decorations

AMERICANA DOOR AND WINDOW DECORATIONS

FLAG-THEMED CAPES, STRAW HATS, BALL CAPS, SHIRTS & FACE ART

PATRIOTIC FLOWERS AND GLOW STICKS

Judas Rising NW Chapter

Jerry