Spring festival pleases all ages

MOSES LAKE - The community turned out to participate in a variety of activities during the 2008 Moses Lake Spring Festival.

The festival began Thursday with the opening of the carnival and concluded Sunday night with a free movie in McCosh Park.

Festival goers of all ages were seen enjoying the entertainment and food in McCosh Park on Saturday, while the sun was shining.

Six-year-old Jenna Lane and 3-year-old sister, Jadyn, of Moses Lake, shaded themselves with a parasol while they watched members of the Turning Pointe Dance Academy perform at the McCosh Park Amphitheater.

The girls' mother, Wendy said they've been coming for the last three years, and when she tries asking what they're favorite part of the festival is, it's obvious it's the dancing, since their eyes never gaze upon anything other than the stage.

Standing amidst the food booths, brothers Ben and Zach Fraley, 13 and 12, and their friend Ben Watrows, 12, Moses Lake, said they liked the bike show earlier, but at the moment it appeared they had a ravenous appetite for the giant snow cones they were eating.

Busying themselves at the gaming area were Aiden Gaeb, 10, and Rehn Reiley, 11. The duo was deep in concentration attempting to navigate a token down a shoot so it would land at the correct moment. If all went well an object would sweep the token into the others sitting flat, causing some to be knocked over the edge at the front of the game for a win.

They said their favorite activity at the festival is going on rides and they agree on the best one.

"Kamikaze," they exclaim in unison.

They'd already been on the ride several times and planned to go again.

At another game, Ken Lloyd helped his 3-year-old daughter Halley at the Pick-a-Duck game. While Ken spoke to her, Halley intently stared down at the group of plastic ducks floating in the pool before her.

Ken said the festival is a fun activity to share with his daughter and said he likes doing whatever she likes.

"As long as she's happy," he said.

Elsewhere in town, Third Avenue was busy with participants in Chalk 'N the Block demonstrating their art skills by drawing with chalk on the pavement.

Moses Lake Business Association Executive Director Sally Goodwin said she was thrilled with the level of participation.

The weather was sunny much of the day, but when it came time for the Kiddies Parade to begin in Sinkiuse Square, clouds rolled in and rain was falling and the parade viewing was delayed until the Moonlight Parade later that evening.

This didn't dampen the community's spirit and more crowds turned out Sunday for the final day of the spring festival.