SOAP LAKE — Despite temperatures reaching triple digits, people came out to the first annual Soap Lake Food and Folk Festival on Saturday.
“We had people message us on Facebook saying, ‘It was hot, but we were in the park for 12 hours,'” said Kim Anderson, one of the festival’s organizers. “That’s a lot of dedication. They wouldn’t do it if they weren’t having so much fun.”
The festival took place at Smokiam Park in Soap Lake and featured six acts, some local and some from further afield. When one performer was unable to make it at the last minute, Riley Franks, who grew up in Soap Lake, stepped in and performed with little notice.
“I remember seeing his work being performed locally on social media, and he lives in Soap Lake, and I thought, ‘Hey, what about Railey? Maybe he could jump in and save the day,'” said Genevieve Gray, another volunteer. “We can’t leave that spot empty.”
The stage was created from the park’s picnic shelter, partitioned off with hay bales. Tejano Skies kicked off the celebration with a Norteño set in the morning, singer-songwriters Billy Stoops and Karl Tosten performed in the afternoon, and the Delta G Blues Band closed out the night.
“People really enjoyed the fact that we weren’t just playing one style of music throughout the festival,” Anderson said. “There were a lot of different styles, and it exposed us to different cultures and styles of music that we might not have experienced before.”
Leif Tortusek awed the audience with his wide range, Anderson said.
“Everyone said… he was an unexpected gem,” she says. “He took us on a musical journey through the world, which was fascinating. He started in New York… we went to Morocco, Congo, Haiti, and traveled all over the world with his music.”
“I loved the first group (Tejano Skies),” said Chris Nesse, who was listening to the music while keeping an eye on his great-grandson, “because I thought the accordion was so cool.”
There were also local craft and food stalls and a beer garden.
Anderson said the committee plans to focus a bit more on fundraising next year, now that the event has shown it can be successful. Eventually, it may expand to a two- or three-day festival, she added.
“We’ve had nothing but great feedback,” Anderson said. “Some of the comments said it was the best music festival they’ve had in Soap Lake in the last 15 years. The musicians loved the hay bale stage. And most everyone said, ‘We’d love to come back next year.'”
To contact Joel Martin, email jmartin@columbiabasinherald.com.
Wendell Tobiason read out the winning numbers during a raffle drawing at Saturday’s Soap Lake Food & Folk Festival, where local businesses donated prizes and organizer Kim Anderson said it was a huge success.
Myla Lopez, 6, of Soap Lake, enjoys a shave ice at the Soap Lake Food and Folk Festival Saturday afternoon.
Attendees relax in the shade at the Soap Lake Food and Folk Festival on Saturday. Temperatures soared to 101 degrees Fahrenheit, but many stayed for the entire 12 hours.
Singer-songwriter Carl Stoops will perform at the Soap Lake Food & Folk Festival on Saturday.
