Cool Desert Nights loses 2023 sponsor and host. West Richland Chamber pleads for help

Cool Desert Nights, one of the pillars of the Tri-Cities summer calendar, needs a rescue or faces cancellation this year.

The West Richland Chamber of Commerce said there is still an opportunity for the event to happen if an auto club or another group steps up to organize the classic car, hot rod and motorcycle event.

It said its 2022 co-host, Red Mountain Event Center, informed it recently that it won’t organize or host the event again in 2023.

The news comes just two months before the event is typically held, in late June.

Cool Desert Nights celebrated its 25th year in 2018 at Richland’s Uptown Shopping Center, the last year it was organized by the Tri-Cities Area Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The regional chamber announced it was walking away from the event in 2017 to focus on member priorities.

The West Richland Chamber took over in 2019 to prevent it from stopping.

Last year, it merged with Hogs & Dogs to become SpeedFest Show & Shine.

Anyone interested in organizing Cool Desert Nights is asked to contact May Hays at mayhays047@gmail.com.

Wendy Culverwell

Tri-City Herald

Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound. Support my work with a digital subscription