by Richard Uhlhorn
Fireworks on this coming Saturday night will begin at approximately 10 p.m.
July is month full of annual events in the Lake Chelan Valley, starting with the Fourth of July celebration with fireworks in Manson on the Fourth with a subsequent fireworks show put on by the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Town Toyota Center on Saturday evening at approximately 10 p.m.
There are plenty of areas around the lower end of the lake to watch the fireworks from. One of the best is the grounds at the Chelan Ranger District, or if you want to be closer, try Don Morse Memorial Park. Both are excellent viewing spots. Lakeside Park and the hills around the lower lake also provide nice vantage points.
Music on the Vine began July 5, but really gets underway on Saturday, July 7 with an Evening of Jazz at the Vogue beginning at 8 p.m.
Music will reverberate throughout the Valley from July 6 to July 14 as the annual Bach Fest takes over the Valley.
For those interested in attending the Festival String Quartet at the Lake Chelan Wineries, the following venues will be hosting the quartet:
Friday, July 6 at 7 p.m. – Tunnel Hill Winery
Monday, July 9 at 8 p.m. – Tsillan Cellars
Tuesday, July 10 at 6 p.m. – Karma Vineyards
Wednesday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. – Hard Row to Hoe Vinyards
Thursday, July 12 t 7:30 p.m. – Rio Vista Winery
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, July 9, 11 & 13, there is a Courtyard Concert Series in the courtyard at St. Andrew’s Church in downtown Chelan.
Monday and Friday the Noon Concert Series will take place at the United Methodist Church.
On Tuesday and Thursday, July 10 & 12 there is an Interactive Program for Children at the Chelan Library.
On Thursday, July 12, the United Methodist Church will host a noon concert of Bach and on Friday, July 13, St. Francis Catholic Church in Chelan will host a Classics Concert.
On Saturday, July 14, the FREE Pops in the Park Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m.
For more information on the Bach Fest visit their website at www.bachfest.org or call 509.682.8475.
In addition to the Bach Fest, the U.S. Open (Pre-World) Paragliding Competition will begin on Sunday, July 8, with paraglider pilots from around the world competing against each other in a three dimensional world of free flying.
Paraglider pilots will take to world famous Chelan air when the 2018 U.S. Open Paragliding Competiton begins on Sunday, July 8. This is a Pre-World event and Chelan will be in the running to host a World Competition in 2020.
Each day of the seven day competition, the pilots will be given a flying task and will be scored on who finishes these tasks first.
This is an event that is fun to watch get underway as pilots launch into the thermal rich air above Chelan Butte and climb to cloudbase which is between 7,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level. They then cross the Columbia River and fly their given task.
Chelan Butte can be accessed by dirt road to the top. You can access the Butte Road in Lakeside just before Lakeside Lodges. Please drive carefully if you do go up (low slung cars probably will not make it). NO SMOKING ON THE BUTTE PERIOD. Take plenty of water because it is hot up there.
Another place to watch these pilots is at the landing zone at Chelan Falls Park usually later in the afternoon or evening as they return from their designated tasks.
The annual Chelanman Multisport Weekend takes place on July 21 and 22.
On July 21 and 22, the annual Chelanman takes place with approximately 2,500 athletes entering this Multisport weekend that includes Triathlons, Marathons and a Kids Triathlon. It is a fun filled event that is fun to watch. Parking is a problem however, so catch a bus at the high school or ball fields or walk in.
Chelanman is a locally run event with all net proceeds going into the Lake Chelan Multisport Foundation whose mission is to embrace healthy lifestyles through support of arts, literature, science, and wellness programs for youth in the Chelan Valley.
All Things Lake Chelan 