| SHOPPING
Looking for a great place to shop?
Columbia Center Mall offers a wide array of stores like The Gap,
Barnes & Noble, Naturalizer Shoes and Sole Outdoors! Use the
link below to check out events, sales and MORE! www.columbia-center-wa.com.
CULTURAL ARTS
Within the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland and Pasco), there
are many art galleries, specialty shops and gift shops.
Richland has several art galleries featuring the talents of local
artisans as well as nationally famous artists such as Jay Gorman.
Cultural and art associations number about five dozen, and gallery
openings bring the night to life.
The Beaux Arts Association
is a non-profit group dedicated to increasing the community's
exposure to, and knowledge of, the arts. The organization
donates time and money to support artistic performances, exhibits,
competitions, and scholarships.
The Mid-Columbia Symphony
Orchestra and Ballet, the Richland Players and Light Opera Company
also perform regularly.
COLUMBIA AND SNAKE RIVERS
The Columbia and Snake Rivers now contain a series of huge lakes,
averaging over 30 miles long. For boating there are many
private and public ramps available without the usual waiting lines.
Activity on the water takes place year-round with hydroplane races
in July and August near the Columbia River Park and Christmas
Parades in December. Water-skiing, sailing, jet-skiing and
(with fifteen separate varieties of fish inhabiting these waters),
fishing is also very popular in the Tri-Cities area.
PARKS
Columbia River Park, in Kennewick, is the largest of three dozen
local parks and boasts more than 600 acres with 5.5 miles of waterfront
recreation area. In addition to the boat launches, there
are numerous picnic facilities, grills, and shelters amidst the
shade of old trees. There is an 18-hole golf course, a driving
range, nature trails, children's fish ponds and paved hiking and
biking trails.
FISHING AND HUNTING
The abundance of water provides excellent fishing opportunities.
For the angler, there are 15 varieties of fresh water fish inhabiting
these waters, including salmon, steelhead, rainbow and brown trout,
walleye and sturgeon. Many types of hunting are popular,
from bird and duck, to deer and elk.
GOLF COURSES
Columbia Point Golf Course, located next to Shilo Inn in Richland,
offers a par 3 and 18 holes. It annually co-hosts the largest
amateur tournament in the West.
Meadow Springs Country Club, is rated among the top seven PGA
courses in the Northwest.
Canyon Lakes Golf Course, in Kennewick, is one of the top 20 new
golf courses in the United States.
SNOW SKIING
Skiing is available within a two-hour drive of the tri-cities
at the new facilities at Bluewood in the southeast corner of the
state. All levels of expertise are represented with 22 major
runs, It operates from mid-November to mid-April.
BENTON-FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR
This annual attraction includes a fair and rodeo parade with
big-name performers, a Hereford cattle show, stock sales, tractor
pulls and equipment shows.
HORSE RACING
Central Washington is definitely horse country. Rodeos,
horse shows and races abound. Sundown Racetrack is located
at the Benton Franklin Fairground where you can watch quarter
horses and thoroughbreds race in September and October.
Races resume in February and March.
WINERIES
This is the heart of Washington's wine country. There are
23 wineries within a 50-mile radius of the Tri-Cities, and more
in the planning stages. Everyone is welcome to come tour
the facilities. Each year the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention
Bureau proudly hosts the Tri-Cities Northwest Wine Festival.
There are seminars, judging of wines and public wine tasting.
The Greater Pasco Area Chamber of Commerce also hosts a Winter
Wine Festival complete with theme costumes, music, prizes and
fun for all. For a listing of local wineries, contact the
Front Desk.
COLUMBIA RIVER EXHIBITION OF HISTORY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
One of the largest employers in the Tri-City area, the Hanford
Project was created during World War II to produce plutonium for
the nation's defense efforts. The Project is now operated
for the U.S. Department of Energy and although the demand for
plutonium has decreased drastically in the last couple of decades,
Hanford continues to play an important role in energy research
and development, waste disposal and defense.
The Hanford Science Center, located in the federal building in
Richland, offers multi-media exhibits and displays, a library,
and educational games.
ANNUAL EVENTS
January
Multi-Media Art Exhibit
Mid-Columbia Farm Forum and Agriculture Show
Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show
February
Tri-City Sports Festival
March
Cranbunny Easter
April
Tri-City Quitters Quilt Show
Tri-City Cloggers
International Mayfest
Annual Kite Festival
May
Allied Arts: Juried Multi-Media Exhibit
Washington State Fiddlers Contest
Products Industrial Expo
Cinco de Mayo
Celebrity Golf Tournament
Gathering of Nations
Pasco Farmers Market Opens
June
Summer Fun Day Parade-Richland
Tri-Cities Wineries Barrel Tasting
Allied Arts Association: Scholarship Exhibit
Tri-Cities Children's Festival
Washington State Square Dancers
Strawberry Festival
Annual Classic Car Show
Ye Merrie Greenwood
Renaissance Faire
Summer Celebration
July
Grande Ole Fourth of July
Old Fashion 4th of July
Pickin' in the Park
Country Music Festival
Allied Arts Sidewalk Show
Budweiser Columbia Cup
Hydroplane Race
August
Barnburner Dance & BBQ
Annual Soccer Tourney
Fabulous 50's, 60's, 70's Festival
Benton Franklin County Fair
September
Tri-Cities Dixieland Jazz Festival
Preston Wine Cellars Chili Cook Off
Tri-Cities Annual Catch the Crush
Tri-Cities International Air Show
October
Cavalcade of Bands
Northwest Designer Craftsmen
Family-A-Fair
November
Allied Arts Association Holiday Magic
Cranberry Christmas
Tri-Cities Northwest Wine Festival
Holiday Walk for the Needy & Luminaria
December
Preston Holiday Lighting
Christmas Light Boat Parade
Nutcracker
We can provide names of recreational booking agents
and/or guides,
Shilo Inn - Richland
(509) 946-4661
Shilo Inns Reservations, call toll-free USA and
Canada
1-800-222-2244
For more information on sights and events in the Tri-Cities area,
contact the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce (509) 735-8486
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