Founders Day seeking volunteers; Conscious Culture Festival approaches

Published 11:01 am Thursday, May 17, 2012

TONASKET – With Founders Day fast approaching, organizers are still seeking volunteers to help with various aspects of the celebration, particularly the parade through Tonasket on Saturday, June 2.

“We’re getting parade forms in,” said Tonasket Chamber of Commerce vice president Julie Alley at the chamber’s May 8 meeting. “We’re still looking for judges (for floats) and crowd control and keeping people from going out into the street during the parade.”

The following weekend, the Conscious Festival will be held at the Okanogan Family Faire grounds, 72 Cayuse Road, 12 miles east of Tonasket. It is a two-day music and cultural festival designed to be a family event, according to Michele Hankins, who was on hand to publicize the event.

“It’s a zero-waste event,” Hankins said. “So we encourage people to pack-it-in, pack it out, and we recycle what we can. Our vendors have to have recyclable or compostable containers for their food.

“There will be workshops, classes. Last year we had about 1,500 people and this year should be about 2,000.”

Hankins has been selling ads for a program guide this year.

“It’s very different from the Barter (Okanogan Family) Faire,” she said. “People come to see something healthy, gentle on the earth, and listen to music.”

Conscious Culture Festival begins at noon on June 8 and continues late into Saturday, June 9. Ticket information can be found online at www.consciousculturefestival.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

The Chamber next meets on Tuesday, May 22, at Whistler’s Family Restaurant.