Moonlight Paddle is looking for volunteers | Columbia Basin Herald

SOAP LAKE – The waters of Soap Lake will light up on August 13th for the Moonlight Paddle, where residents decorate their water glasses to whatever extent they can imagine.

“The Moonlight Paddle has been going on for many years and we always do it under the full moon in August,” said Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce President Cindi Rang.

The Moonlight Paddle features a race early in the day, before a free ride later in the evening and into the night. Their non-motorized ships are decorated with features that help them glow in the dark, with prizes for those deemed the best decorated.

“We have a contest with prizes for the funniest, most colorful and best theme,” Rang said. “Almost everyone wins an award in some category. The more use of lights, the stronger.”

Races start earlier and are run by age groups. They take place in parallel at East Beach Park, where the rest of the parties will be held.

“We have races and races are fun,” Rang said. “We do all age groups and we have some extra kayaks for kids and adults. So if they don’t have a kayak for the races, that shouldn’t deter them. We do the races parallel to the coast so people can to see and encourage his family”.

Rang said the races last a couple of hours and then they will move on to the Moonlight Paddle, which he described as similar to a parade.

“The idea is for everyone to show up on the beach late in the evening and decorate their kayaks, their canoes, their rowboats, whatever they have that isn’t motorized,” Rang said. “…It’s like a parade.”

Along with the races and parade, other festivities will take place on East Street Beach. This includes bounce houses, a beer garden, music and more.

“This year we are also adding an indigenous drum circle,” Rang said. “We have a large indigenous community and they want to touch the lake, which is something they’ve always done historically.”

In order to make the event a success, Rang said they are still looking for volunteers to help with events both on and off the lake.

“We’ve got a lot of kids running, so we just want to make sure we’re out there and safe, pointing them in the right direction,” Rang said. “We also have food booths, a beer garden, music, registration and judging if there are people who want to help. It’s a roughly seven-hour event, all organized by volunteers.”

Those interested in participating in the race can sign up at the registration booth at East Beach Park on August 13, and entry is $5 per participant.

“Registration is only $5, and that pays for the prizes, pays for the whistle they need and their lighted lanyard, which is what’s required for the Moonlight Paddle,” Rang said.

Rang also invited people from the surrounding communities.

“It’s a really fun event,” he said, “not just the locals, but a lot of people from the area come and enjoy it.”

Ian Bivona can be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

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