Two of Tri-Cities most popular summer events merge and find a new home

Two of the Tri-Cities most popular summer events will be merging and moving to a new location.

Cool Desert Nights and Hogs & Dogs are combining into a single event, Speedfest Show and Shine, to be held June 23-25 in West Richland.

The Red Mountain Event Center, the site of the Tri-City Raceway, stepped up as Cool Desert Nights, usually held in Richland, was looking for a new home after more than 25 years.

Hogs & Dogs also had outgrown the Bombing Range Sports Complex, where parking and getting cars in and out had become more challenging, said Darrell Toombs, past president of the West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Change is not always easy, but at times it is necessary,” the Hogs and Dogs Regional Family Festival posted on social media.

“We feel the merging of the two events Cool Desert Nights and Hogs & Dogs at the new location, Tri-City Raceway, is an excellent way to improve both events with extra room, better parking, safer environment, and more activities for one spectacular weekend!” it posted.

The Red Mountain Event Center is in charge of Cool Desert Nights and the chamber is working with the center on Hogs & Dogs.

There will be a charge of $5 per car for parking this year, but no entrance fee, as the organizations strive to continue to make the events affordable for families.

Proceeds will go to Clean Sweep Tri-Cities, a faith-based group, that will help with parking.

The two events will include a motorcycle and car parts swap meet, which will have a separate $10 entrance fee.

The Cool Desert Night Cruise, with a route yet to be determined, is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday June 23. It will end at the Tri-City Raceway for a drive-in movie as night falls about 9 p.m.

The Cool Desert Nights Show & Shine with classic cars of all makes and models will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, June 24. The next day, Saturday, the Hogs & Dogs motorcycle show will have the same hours.

Food trucks, a kids zone, a cornhole tournament, bands and DJs are being planned, with details still being worked out.

IBEW 112 Local Union of Electrical Workers has signed up to the premier sponsor of Speedfest.

This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM.