Chautauqua tour comes to Sun Lakes

OLYMPIA – May 22, 2018 – The New Old Time Chautauqua and Washington State Parks are teaming up to bring family fun, educational experiences, food and entertainment to Sun Lake-Dry Falls State Park and communities in Ferry, Grant and Okanogan counties next month.

This is America’s only traveling or circuit Chautauqua. This summer, the Chautaqua and State Parks are reuniting to help renew ties between Washington’s beautiful park system and nearby communities by hosting Chautauquas at six parks in three areas of the state—desert, mountain and sea.

The first stop in the tour—the desert area—runs from Thursday, June 14 through Wednesday, June 20, with Sun Lake-Dry Falls State Park as its anchor site. The park is located at 34875 Park Lake Road N.E., Coulee City.

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park

Sun Lakes Amphitheater

Saturday, June 16

9 a.m. — Community service project to clean up the Pioneer Cemetery in Coulee City.

4 p.m.—Workshops at the amphitheater, presented by park staff and partners. Workshop offerings include the history of Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, flint knapping (the art of making stone tools), soil science, bead work and crafts for children.

6 p.m.—Potluck at the amphitheater. All are welcome. Speakers will address visitors during dinner, music and dance with follow the potluck, and the evening will cap off with a showing of Ice Age Flood films.

Coulee City

Sunday, June 17

1:30 p.m.—Parade from Main Street in downtown Coulee City to Almira Coulee Hartline High School. This colorful parade features costumed jugglers, unicycle riders, dancers, little faeries and other merry-makers accompanied by Chautaqua’s lively marching band. Local residents and community groups are encouraged to participate in the parade.

2 to 5 p.m.—Three sessions of interactive workshops at Almira Coulee Hartline High School, led by Chautaqua on topics including juggling, acrobatics, mask-making, trash fashion creation, samba dance and drumming, folk singing, magic, clowning, discussions on alternative energy, health education, storytelling and more. Workshops last around 45 minutes each. Community members are invited to lead workshops as well. Anyone interested in conducting a workshop should contact Makaela Kroin.

In addition, the schedule for the desert tour includes four days of programming in collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of The Colville Reservation:

Thursday, June 14, Keller Community Center,11669 S. Highway 21, Keller

Friday, June 15, Nespelem Community Center, 4000 Columbia River Rd, Nespelem

Tuesday, June 19, Inchelium Community Center, Inchelium-Kettle Falls Road, Inchelium

Wednesday, June 20, Omak Community Center, 5th Ave E & Benton Street Omak

The New Old Time Chautauqua and State Parks have two more tours scheduled at the following state parks and communities:

Mountain June 22 through 26 Pearrygin Lake, Alta Lake and Conconully state parks and the towns of Twisp and Conconully

Sea June 28 through 30 Birch Bay and Peace Arch state parks, Lummi Nation

For more information about the summer 2018 NOTC-State Parks tour, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=390, or contact Makaela Kroin, Folk and Traditional Arts Program Coordinator, (360) 902-8635.

About the New Old Time Chautauqua

The New Old Time Chautauqua is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization of 60-plus volunteer performers, educators and staff whose mission is to travel throughout the Greater Northwest to small towns and Native Nations to promote community through education, entertainment and laughter. The NOTC was founded in 1981 by the Flying Karamazov Brothers and Dr. Patch Adams. For the last 37 years, the NOTC has brought the Chautauqua concept to towns in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Northern California, British Columbia and Alaska. For more information, visit: http://www.chautauqua.org/.

About the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program

The New Old Time Chautauqua events are part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts Program, with funding provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as support from the Washington State Parks Foundation.

For more information about the Folks and Traditional Arts in the Parks program, including upcoming events, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/folkarts, or contact Makaela Kroin, Program Coordinator, at Makaela.Kroin@parks.wa.gov or (360) 902-8635.