No Water Follies boat races or air show for Tri-Cities this year. Both canceled

The Tri-City Water Follies air show and Columbia Cup will not be held this summer.

“Due to the recently issued Washington state guidelines for special events, the size and scope of boat race weekend is not allowed,” said Hector Cruz, president of the Tri-City Water Follies, on Monday evening.

The event draws about 65,000 spectators.

The Tri-City Water Follies Board, Kennewick and Pasco city officials, and Visit Tri-Cities had been discussing the event with the governor’s office in an attempt to get guidelines amended, said Kathy Powell, event director.

“We gave it our best shot, to no avail,” she said.

Planning was being done as recently as late April for the HAPO Columbia Cup unlimited hydroplane race, usually held in late July in the Tri-Cities.

Last summer was the first time race has not been held in the Tri-Cities since 1965.

The tourism that results from the Over-the-River Air Show and Columbia Cup will be missed and the cancellation also is a disappointment to Tri-City area residents, said Marie Mosley, Kennewick city manager.

The event generates about $3 million in economic impact for Tri-Cities area businesses.

Profits from the Tri-City Water Follies have recently been invested in funding improvements to the Columbia Park band shell, rebuild of the Playground of Dreams and an upgrade to the sound system in the park.

“The loss of over $3 million to our local economy is one that will be deeply felt by our businesses that are struggling to recover, and I am disappointed that Gov. (Jay) Inslee’s office was unwilling to work with our local officials to make this outdoor event safe for our communities,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash.

Newhouse said that shutting down the outdoor event more than two months before it is scheduled “is a slap in the face to local leaders, health care workers and business owners who have worked for over a year to keep our communities healthy and distribute vaccines to thousands of Tri-Cities residents.”

The Washington state special event guidance as updated April 26 limits outdoor special events to 9,000 people at one time.

In addition, no more than 3,000 people can be in a five-acre area where event activities are being held to allow for six feet of physical distancing. An acre is 43,000 square feet.

Art in the Park will be held as scheduled on what is usually boat race weekend, July 23-24, at Howard Amon Park in Richland.

About 200 artists have confirmed they will participate, said Brandie Saint Claire, director of the event.

There will be food concessions, but no entertainment and no bus shuttle to the park is planned at this time.

This story was originally published May 3, 2021 at 10:56 PM.