Information about non-profit performing & visual art associations and organizations is provided for Tri-Cities WA (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) and other nearby communities including Yakima, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, and Pendleton. In addition, a list of annual art and music related festivals and fairs is provided (see List of Cities & Counties and Area Maps).
Check out the following topics:
Art & Music Festivals
Art and music festivals are listed for the Tri-Cities, Athena, Benton City, Ephrata, Milton-Freewater, Moses Lake, Pendleton, Prosser, Toppenish, Walla Walla and Yakima.
Tri-Cities
Allied Arts Association's Art in the Park - July
Allied Arts Association sponsors the annual Art in the Park festival every year
in July at Howard Amon Park in Richland. The Art in the Park show features artists and craftsman offering a unique array of
photography, jewelry, metal art, furniture, pottery, paintings, glass art and much more. 
Christ the King Sausage Fest - September
Sausage Fest is held every year in September and is the primary fundraising event for Christ the King School in Richland. It generates a lot of family fun for the best entertainment value around. Admission is free.
First Night Tri-Cities - New Year's Eve
Come celebrate First Night Tri-Cities on New Year's Eve at the Three Rivers Convention Center.
First Night Tri-Cities provides a safe, friendly environment for families to spend New Year's Eve together to enjoy the visual and lively arts.
A low-cost general admission button for family members ages five and over is all it takes to get into the different venues.
Jazz Unlimited Festival - April
Jazz Unlimited is a festival hosted by the Music department at Columbia Basin College each year during April. This event involves about 4,500 student performers from groups around the Northwest, including high school concert bands, middle, junior high, and high school jazz bands, concert choirs, and jazz choirs.
RadCon - Science Fiction & Fantasy - February
Radcon is a fan run Science-Fiction / Fantasy convention held each Presidents day weekend at the Red Lion Inn in Pasco.
Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival & Dutch Oven Rendezvous - June
Each year the Mid-Columbia Bluegrass Music Association promotes the
Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival which takes place during
the second week of June.
Southeastern Washington Cavalcade of Bands - October
The Southeastern Washington Cavalcade of Bands is the largest marching band festival
in Washington State which normally hosts nearly 30 competitive marching bands. It is held the first weekend in October and the
location switches every year between Lampson Stadium and Edgar Brown Stadium.
Tour d' Arts - October
There are over a dozen artists featured in the annual self-guided Tour d' Arts in October. The tour features book arts, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, metal work, mixed media, paintings, photography, pottery, sculpture, wood and more.
Tri-Cities (continued)
Tri-Cities International Film Festival - October
The Tri-Cities International Film Festival (TCIF3) spotlights short films made by fans on limited budgets but unlimited imagination, especially in the Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Comic genres. The festival is held each October in several locations in Richland.
Tumbleweed Music Festival - September
Each year the Three Rivers Folklife Society (3RFS) promotes the annual two day Tumbleweed Music Festival in September. It features live acoustic music from four outdoor stages, an indoor dance stage, arts and crafts vendors and of course, festival food.
Athena Caledonian Games - July
The annual Athena Caledonian Games is held in mid-July at the Athena city park. The Athena Caledonian Games is a Scottish Heritage Festival with games, events, entertainment, music, food and dancing that are founded in the Scottish tradition. Note: Athena is located near Milton-Freewater.
Prosser
Prosser Art Walk & Wine Gala - July
The Prosser Art Walk & Wine Gala features artists from all over the Pacific Northwest. The warm summer evening is a perfect setting as 20 local wineries offer their latest vintages. Area food vendors provide the fare as jazz fills the air.
Scottish Fest - June
The Prosser Scottish Fest is held the third Saturday in June at the Port of Benton Wine and Food Park.
Activities, events and music include: Anvil Launch, Celtic Music, Pipe Bands, Clan Tents, Highland & Irish Dancers,
Highland Heavy Athletics, MacPherson's Farm, Children's Activities, Scottish Vendors, Firefighter's Challenge, and the Flying Anvil Pub.
Toppenish - Mural in a Day - June
Each year, on the first Saturday in June, the Toppenish Mural Society gets a group of artists together to complete a Mural-in-a-day. The artists invited to participate in Mural-in-a-Day are professional Western artists from throughout the Western United States and Canada. There are over 75 murals that have been painted in downtown Toppenish.
Walla Walla
Walla Walla Chamber Music Festivals - June
The main Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival (WWCMF) runs for over two weeks each June. The Festival presents over two dozen musical events at a variety of traditional and non-traditional venues. Over a dozen musicians from around the world comprise the acclaimed roster of performers. The Festival emphasizes smaller venues and close encounters between audience, performers, and great works of chamber music past and present.
Walla Walla Valley Quilt Festival - September
The Walla Walla Valley Quilt Festival is a three-day event that is held each September at the Walla Walla Fairgrounds.
Art Associations & Galleries
Non-profit art associations and galleries are listed for Tri-Cities, Connell, Hermiston, Moses Lake, Palouse, Pendleton, Toppenish, Walla Walla and Yakima.
Tri-Cities
509Art
Founded in 2008, 509Art (Facebook) is an organization that promotes and encourages the engagement of the creative community within the 509 area code. Their purpose is to gather together artists of Eastern Washington in an effort to bring about a new vision and resurgence of the creative arts.
Allied Arts Association
The Allied Arts Association and gallery provides art development,
awareness and education for the Mid-Columbia region, including the cities of Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and surrounding areas.
Arts Center Task Force
The Arts Center Task Force is the sponsor of the Vista Arts Center, which will be located in the heart of the Vista Field Redevelopment Project in Kennewick. We invite you to join us in transforming our community through this non-profit facility. Through your donations and sponsorships, we are the ones who can make the Vista Arts Center a reality.
Art Gallery at WSU Tri-Cities
The Art Gallery at WSU Tri-Cities is located in room 102 of the Consolidated Information Center (CIC) on the WSU-TC Campus and features over a half dozen new exhibits each year.
Art Works Northwest (formerly Cyber Art 509)
Art Works Northwest (formerly Cyber Art 509) is a cooperative of artists from the 509 area code (Tri-Cities region). They provide rotating art exhibits at local restaurants, coffee shops, wineries and professional offices at no cost to the business. If someone is interested in buying some displayed art, they contact the artist directly.
Arts Foundation of the Mid-Columbia
The Arts Foundation of the Mid-Columbia, a non-profit organization, is passionate about art and culture. Our mission is simple: we want to enliven our area, the Mid-Columbia region, by promoting and celebrating art in all its forms, including collaborative projects and art patronage.
Columbia Basin College Arts Center
The Columbia Basin College Arts Center offers art exhibits and a variety of theatrical and music performances.
Desert Fiber Arts Guild
The Desert Fiber Arts Guild is a weaving, spinning, basketry and felting guild. Their 117 members
are from the Tri-Cities and Lower Valley. There are study groups for those with interests in basketry, knitting, spinning,
tapestry & felters, weaving (both daytime and evening), and bead & basketry.
Esvelt Gallery
The Esvelt Gallery has a 30-year history of operating on the campus of Columbia Basin College. The Gallery acts as a focal point for ideas presented in all manner of artistic styles, which operate on both intellectual and tangible levels.
Kennewick Art Walk
The Kennewick Art Walk (Facebook) happens the First Thursday of every month from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm in Historic Downtown Kennewick. Numerous fine local and regional artists are showcased every month in a family friendly atmosphere of local business establishments.
Kennewick Arts Commission
The Kennewick Arts Commission serves to enhance and enrich the quality of life of Kennewick residents and visitors by fostering an artistic environment that develops a sense of community as it creates a number of public venues.
Watch a video (Facebook) created for a local Art and Economy Symposium that shows the benefits of promoting arts in the Tri-Cities to the community.
Pasco Arts and Culture Commission
The Pasco Arts and Culture Commission advises the City Council on matters relating to public art and culture, including review and evaluation on matters pertaining to the acceptance, procurement, placement and maintenance of public art. The Commission will perform other functions as the City's primary resource in matters of public art and culture.
Tri-Cities (continued)
Richland Arts Commission
The Richland Arts Commission provides recommendations to the Richland City Council on artistic endeavors in which the city becomes involved and acts as a representative of the community on such matters.
Tri-City Quilters' Guild
The Tri-City Quilters' Guild (TCQG) consists of 400 quilters who have joined together to promote quilting in our communities. They alternate between day and evening meetings, hold workships, make quilts for others, go on retreats, and have an annual quilt show each Spring.
White Bluffs Quilt Museum
The White Bluffs Quilt Museum is both a museum and a support
organization for all the quilting, weaving, spinning and basketry guilds and groups located in Eastern Washington State. You can attend classes in
machine and hand sewing, quilting, weaving, knitting, crochet, embroidery, basketry, kumihimo, cards, and lots more! Visitors are always welcome.
Connell - Wall Murals
Resident artists have graced the town with a visual feast of wall murals & sculptures, including Mei Ling's Dragon, Where the Wild Things Are, The Cloudburst, and Harvest History.
Moses Lake - Columbia Basin Allied Arts
The Columbia Basin Allied Arts has been providing a wide variety of arts to a broad contingency of patrons since 1978. While a season of premiere performances are presented each year in the Wallenstein Theatre at Big Bend Community College, an extensive outreach program takes professional artists and art studies into Columbia Basin schools.
Palouse Arts Council
The Palouse Arts Council (Facebook) represents approximately 1000 art and culture starved residents in Palouse Washington that neighbors both the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
Pendleton
Betty Feves Memorial Gallery
The Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at Blue Mountain Community College is a non-profit exhibit space connecting emerging and established artists and their work with students, staff and the general public in Eastern Oregon.
Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts
The
Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts provides educational, social and economic opportunities for Native Americans
through artistic development.
Pendleton Center for the Arts
The
Pendleton Center for the Arts offers fine arts exhibits, live music performances, arts education, and opportunities for purchasing and-crafted items made by regional artists.
Toppenish - Mural Gallery
The Toppenish Mural Society was formed in 1989 by painting an entire mural in one day to commemorate the Washington Centennial. Since 1989, over 70 murals have been painted on the sides of buildings that may be viewed by walking the streets in Toppenish. You can view a street map of the mural locations.
Walla Walla
ArtWalla
The mission of ArtWalla is to support and strengthen the Arts as an integral
part of daily life, education and economic development in the Walla Walla Valley.
Carnegie Picture Lab
Carnegie Picture Lab, a non-profit arts educational organization that
was founded in 1971, provides art education and exhibitions to the greater Walla Walla community.
Clyde & Mary Harris Gallery
The Clyde & Mary Harris Gallery, located on the Walla Walla University campus, concentrates on faculty, student, and regional shows that have special interests and professional qualities that may inspire both the campus and the community.
Donald Sheehan Gallery
The Donald Sheehan Gallery works to support the curriculum and to provide exhibitions that will enrich the artistic and cultural experiences of Whitman College and the community.
Yakima - Larson Gallery
The Larson Gallery is located on the campus of Yakima Valley Community College and
defines itself as "In step with art and community." More than a half dozen exhibits are scheduled each year.
Ballet - Tri-Cities
Mid-Columbia Regional Ballet
The mission of Mid-Columbia Regional Ballet is to foster and advance the art of ballet in its various forms in the Mid-Columbia region.
Barbershop Quartets, Choirs & Choral Ensembles
Barbershop quartets and choirs & choral ensembles are listed for Tri-Cities, Pendleton and Walla Walla. Inland Northwest Muscians performs in over 40 communites in Eastern Oregon and Southeast Washington.
Tri-Cities
Mid-Columbia Mastersingers
The Mid-Columbia Mastersingers is a premier regional choral ensemble presenting outstanding classical vocal performances of the highest level of choral music. Mid-Columbia Mastersingers also sponsors the Mid-Columbia Boys Choir.
Rolling Hills Chorus
The Rolling Hills Chorus of Sweet Adelines International deliver performances
in original American art-form called "barbershop".
Tri-City Youth Choir - Forte!
The Tri-City Youth Choir is made up of talented high school students from all over the surrounding area. Forte! is an audition-only show choir with a repertoire that includes choreographed music from a wide variety of genres.
Hermiston - Southeast Washington & Northeast Oregon - Inland Northwest Musicians
Founded in 1999, Inland Northwest Musicians continues to offer fine orchestral
and choral music and education opportunities to Eastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington. Inland Northwest Musicians is comprised of
five performing ensembles. The Inland Northwest Orchestra and Inland Northwest Chorale are their premier ensembles.
The Willow Creek Symphony, Willow Creek Singers and Wallowa Valley Orchestra are the youth/introductory preparatory ensembles.
Pendleton - Oregon East Symphony and Chorale
The Oregon East Symphony and Chorale provides a dependable source of live orchestral and choral music with special emphasis on youth educational opportunities.
Walla Walla
Blue Mountain Chorus
Blue Mountain Chorus (Facebook) is one of more than 700 choruses in Sweet Adelines International. Chartered in 1974, Blue Mountain Chorus is a well- respected part of the Walla Walla Valley music scene.
Walla Walla Symphony & Walla Walla Choral Society
The
Walla Walla Symphony,
which is the oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi, offers concerts with the
Walla Walla Choral Society.
Yakima Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
The
Yakima Symphony Orchestra
offers concerts with the Yakima Symphony Chorus as the official choral ensemble.
Bluegrass, Celtic, Dance, Dulcimers, Fiddlers, Folklife
Bluegrass, celtic, dance, dulcimers, fiddlers, folklife and other traditional arts groups are listed for Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Yakima.
Tri-Cities
Mid-Columbia Bluegrass Music Association
The Mid-Columbia Bluegrass Music Association is affiliated with the Mid-Columbia Traditional Arts and Music Association. The members play and listen to folk music, blues, old time Appalachian, fiddle tunes, but mostly Bluegrass. In addition, they host an open acoustic music jam every Tuesday and a Bluegrass jam on the first Thursday of the month.
Three Rivers Dulcimer Society
The Three Rivers Dulcimer Society was formed in March 2003 to promote the playing and listening of Appalachian mountain dulcimers.
Three Rivers Folklife Society
The Three Rivers Folklife Society (3RFS) was organized in 1988 and is dedicated to
promoting folk music in the Tri-Cities. They sponsor a coffee house,
several concerts, song circles
and the annual Tumbleweed Music Festival in September.
Tri-Cities (continued)
Tri-Cities Steel Band Association
The Tri-Cities Steel Band Association (TCSBA) endeavors to promote and educate youth in the performance of music influenced from Caribbean origins (reggae, soca, ska, and calypso music). This organization currently sponsors four performance bands: 'Bahuru Marimba Band, OK2Botay Steel Band, Baduku Marimba Band, and Bram Brata Steel Band. They also conduct instructional classes year round including summer camps.
Tri-City Tappers
The Tri-City Tappers is an over-50 tap-dancing group established in 1994 and has a busy performance schedule. The Silk Stockings is their beginners group for dancers over 40!
Washington Old Time Fiddlers
The Washington Old Time Fiddlers (District 12) hold a monthly jam session the second Sunday of each month starting at 2 p.m. at Adult Day Services in Kennewick.
Walla Walla Friends of Acoustic Music
Walla Walla Friends of Acoustic Music is an organization that supports and promotes acoustic music in many forms. They also support many forms of folk and traditional community dance.
Yakima - Apple Country Contra Dancers
The Apple Country Contra Dancers holds regular contra sessions and classes on the 2nd Saturday from 7:30 - 11:00 p.m. at Broadway Grange.
Broadway Shows
You can find broadway show performances in Tri-Cities and Yakima.
Tri-Cities - Retter & Company Theatre
(Note: broadway shows are on hold for the time being...) Broadway shows and more are held several times each year at the Retter & Company Theatre at the Toyota Center.
Yakima - The Capital Theatre
The Capital Theatre is home to a variety of productions that are presented by numerous local organizations, such as
the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and proudly presents top-quality touring Broadway musicals.
Community Concerts, Orchestras & Symphonies
Information about community concerts, orchestras, symphonies, handbell choirs, classical guitar societies, and string quartets is provided for Tri-Cities, Moses Lake, Pendleton, Walla Walla and Yakima.
Tri-Cities
Bells of the Desert
The Bells of the Desert (Facebook) is a handbell choir that has been in existence for 10 years. They play medium to advanced handbell music in concerts twice a year and at special events when invited.
Camerata Musica
Camerata Musica has been bringing a tradition of chamber music to the Tri-Cities by presenting classical music by solo musicians and small ensembles in an intimate setting.
Classical Guitar Society of Tri-Cities
The Classical Guitar Society of Tri-Cities is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1996. They are a fellowship of classical guitar enthusiasts and their goals are to promote classical guitar performances in the Eastern Washington area, raise awareness of their beloved art form, and provide a network for performers, teachers, students, and luthiers.
Columbia Basin College Concerts
Columbia Basin College offers a variety of concerts through the Columbia Basin College Arts Center. Most are open to the public and free of charge.
Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities
Community Concerts of the Tri-Cities has been bringing world class entertainment to the Columbia Basin Region for over 60 years.
Mid-Columbia Symphony
The
Mid-Columbia Symphony has been performing for over 70 years and offers four concerts each season. Mid-Columbia Symphony also sponsors the Young Artist Competition
that is held annually to promote and encourage talented student musicians across the region.
Mid-Columbia Youth Orchestras
The Mid-Columbia Youth Orchestras is the premier youth symphony in the Tri-Cities, open to students age 12 through high school senior.
Hermiston - Southeast Washington & Northeast Oregon - Inland Northwest Musicians
Founded in 1999, Inland Northwest Musicians continues to offer fine orchestral
and choral music and education opportunities to Eastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington. Inland Northwest Musicians is comprised of five performing ensembles.
Pendleton - Oregon East Symphony and Chorale
The Oregon East Symphony and Chorale provides a dependable source of live orchestral and choral music with special emphasis on youth educational opportunities.
Walla Walla
Walla Walla Symphony & Walla Walla Choral Society
The
Walla Walla Symphony,
which is the oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi, offers concerts with the
Walla Walla Choral Society.
Walla Walla Valley Bands
The Walla Walla Valley Bands consists of a full Concert Band, two Jazz Bands and several Chamber Ensembles including a Clarinet Choir, Sax Quartet and Trombone Gaggle. They perform traditional concerts at the Walla Walla Community College Performing Arts Center in December, March and May. In addition, the various groups and ensembles perform throughout the Walla Walla Valley during the year.
Yakima
The Seasons
The Seasons is non-profit organization dedicated to enriching cultural life in Yakima and sharing their love of exceptional, interesting music. Through weekly programming, two major classical & jazz music festivals in the Spring and Fall, workshops, Artist-in-Residence programs, and educational outreach, The Seasons offers activities and events enjoyable for community members of all ages.
Yakima Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
The
Yakima Symphony Orchestra
offers concerts with the
Yakima Symphony Chorus
as the official choral ensemble.
Yakima Valley Community Band
Begun in 1919 as the Yakima City Band, the Yakima Valley Community Band has a long tradition of providing live music to the communities of the Yakima Valley through free public concerts including its summer series of band concerts called "Concerts In The Parks."
Drama & Live Theatre
You can find drama and live theatre performances in Tri-Cities, Dayton, Pendleton, Prosser, Walla Walla and Yakima.
Tri-Cities
Academy of Children's Theatre
The Academy of Children's Theatre (ACT) was created in 1994 to provide dramatic arts
instruction and performances geared especially for children.
Columbia Basin College Theatre Productions
Columbia Basin College offers a variety of theatrical performances through the Columbia Basin College Arts Center.
Richland Players
The Richland Players has offered a full season of live performances annually and without interruption for over 65
years.
The Mystery Theatre
The Mystery Theatre is a community theatre in Kennewick that features plays, live music, and more!
The Rude Mechanicals
The Rude Mechanicals is a theatre company dedicated to the production of Shakespeare and Shakespeare-inspired plays. Our vision is to inspire a community where innovative, high-quality theatre is celebrated.
Theatre... Not A Dying Art
Theatre... Not A Dying Art - as the first word in our company title implies... We are all about theatre! Our goal is to bring professional quality theatre to the area, be it comedy, drama, reader's theatre, musicals, and dinner theatre.
Dayton - Liberty Theatre
The Liberty Theatre offers
family oriented movies, foreign films, and live performances presented by the Touchet Valley Arts Council (TVAC).
Pendleton - Blue Mountain Community College Theatre
The mission of the Blue Mountain Community College Theatre is to entertain, enlighten, and educate the diverse community in and around Pendleton by producing plays.
Prosser
Princess Theatre
The Princess Theatre is a historical landmark in Prosser that has been completely renovated and
is showcasing live stage plays by the Valley Theatre Company, movies, and so much more!
Prosser Conservatory Theater for Children
The Prosser Conservatory Theater for Children was created to provide dramatic arts instruction and performances geared especially for children.
Walla Walla
Gesa Power House Theatre
The Gesa Power House Theatre is a 342-seat performing arts theatre that was transformed from the historic
power house located in downtown Walla Walla. This theatre stages professional productions featuring the works of William Shakespeare as well as productions devoted to
classical music and popular entertainment.
Harper Joy Theatre
The Department of Theatre at Whitman College offers several theatrical performances at the Harper Joy Theatre.
Little Theatre of Walla Walla
The Little Theatre of Walla Walla has been producing "Good Plays, Done Well... Since 1944."
Shakespeare Walla Walla
Shakespeare Walla Walla is providing professional Shakespearian theatre and youth theatre education to Walla Walla Valley residents and visitors. In addition, this organization is renovating the old Walla Walla power house into the Gesa Power House Theatre based on the original design by William Shakespeare for his plays.
Yakima
The Capital Theatre
The Capital Theatre is home to a variety of productions that are presented by numerous local organizations, such as the
4th Street Theatre, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and proudly presents top-quality touring Broadway musicals.
The Warehouse Theatre Company
The Warehouse Theatre Company (WTC) has provided affordable live theatre to the Yakima Valley for almost sixty years. WTC produces five shows in an intimate 200 seat theatre at the Allied Arts Center -- originally a fruit warehouse!
Opera - Tri-Cities
Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre
In the more than fifty years since their first performance, the
Mid-Columbia Musical Theatre (formerly the Richland Light Opera Company) has produced over ninety operas and musicals.
Mid-Columbia Opera On The Vine
Mid-Columbia Opera On The Vine brings pop-up opera and casual classical concerts to unexpected venues, including wineries, breweries, corporate events, and house concerts.