Can I get dinner, drinks and live music for $25 at this Tri-Cities weekly event?
In eastern Washington, including Tri-Cities, there’s a common complaint that there’s nothing to do around here. But just because we don’t have a major sports team or a massive stadium for touring artists doesn’t mean there’s an absence of entertainment.
In fact, there is almost always something going on in Tri-Cities, and there are often free or cheap options aimed at engaging the community.
In its 21st year, the Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Live@5 concert series is a longstanding community entertainment option, with free live music every single week. No matter your age, or who you bring along, the concert series welcomes all to John Dam Plaza for some community fun.
But it’s more than just live music. Vendors set up in the park, including food trucks and local business stands for attendees to check out, plus a beer and wine garden through The Emerald of Siam.
The Tri-City Herald set out to see just how easy it is to spend your Thursday nights at the Live@5 concert series with a $25 budget in mind.
Live@5 in Richland
The concert series through primary sponsor Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is presented by Stephens Media Group, a digital media company that runs six Tri-Cities radio stations.
Every Thursday, music starts at 5 p.m. on the stage at John Dam Plaza. But as I found on June 5, people start showing up well before the music begins.
The grass directly in front of the stage can be used for lawn seating, whether you sit on the grass, bring a blanket or set up your own chair. When looking at the stage, you’ll find a beer and wine garden to the left, ran by The Emerald of Siam.
Through the rest of the park, you’ll find food trucks, vendors and the kids inflatable zone by Knockerball Tri-Cities. Since there is no entry fee for Live@5, my entire $25 budget could be used on snacks and goods.
Drinks at Live@5
Tables and free seating options are set up in the beer and wine garden.
After an ID check, attendees over 21 will receive a wristband, showing they can purchase alcohol.
The beer and wine garden operates on a token system. After getting your wristband, you can purchase tokens, with packages available. Yellow tokens cover drinks like soda or tips for the bartenders, while green tokens cover your alcoholic options.
Green tokens are $8. I checked out the drink list and exchanged a green token for a tangerine-flavored White Claw, though there are also cocktail options I considered.
Food at Live@5
While food options may vary week-to-week, I found a solid assortment of meals, lighter eats, sweets and diet-friendly options available. Just some of the establishments present included:
Dog Haus
Lucky Bao
Don Taco
Tom’s Coffee
Heavenly Sweets
Doggie Style Gourmet
Kona Ice
Mezzo Thai
Caleb’s Sauce Box
At first, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to eat. I considered an Emerald City hot dog from Doggie Style Gourmet for $10, an order of soup dumplings from Lucky Bao for $12 or some tacos from Don Taco for $3 each.
Ultimately, I stopped by Dog Haus for a slider, since I wanted something I knew I’d be able to finish. I was recommended the Holy Aioli slider, so I ordered one of those and a bag of chips, which only cost $5. If I had been hungrier, I could have ordered a meal deal, two sliders, chips and a drink for $10.
I was tempted to order a Reese’s-flavored cookie from Heavenly Sweets for $4, or try the sweet Apple Nachos for $6, but decided to just take my savory snacks back to my seat. I left my sunglasses behind, so I kept shifting my chair to stay out of the sun.
Anyone planning to stop by Live@5 should definitely bring sunglasses, sunscreen and something to shade their head if possible, like a hat or a lawn chair with a head covering. The sun sets right behind the stage, and it’s only going to get hotter in Tri-Cities this summer.
Music at Live@5
Englewood Heights, a rock cover band from Yakima, played on June 5. They were scheduled to perform for the concert series last year, but when temperatures reached 109 degrees, their set had to be canceled.
The band members mentioned how excited they were to finally get to play the event. They played hits from different decades and subgenres of rock, including “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Summer of ‘69,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Crazy” and more.
They started with three members on stage, but by the end of the night, the band had doubled in size with another guitarist, a keyboard player and a vocalist added to the mix.
Bands play for a few hours, with intermissions between sets. The remaining bands scheduled to perform are:
June 12 - Groove Principal
June 19 - Stoney Lonesome
June 26 - Badlandz
July 3 - The Knockdowns
July 10 - Fat Fox
July 17 - Time Machine
July 24 - Stompin’ Ground
July 31 - Queen’s Gate
Aug 7 - Joel Gibson Jr.