Release Date:

April 07, 2006

WALLA WALLA SWEET ONION FESTIVAL CELEBRATES SIGNATURE SWEETS AND NEW TREATS TO WALLA WALLA

22^nd annual festival and celebration presents weekend of community events

Walla Walla, Wash.-  The 22^nd annual Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival weekend will be held at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds on Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 16, 2006.  The schedule includes new activities and favorite past events beginning Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

            Friday night kicks off with an annual celebration in recognition of the sweet onion producers in the valley and the local businesses and individuals that sponsor the festival.  Local Chef Judith Henderson will cater the event serving up some of the finest and freshest produce in the valley.  Local wines will be served, and there will be dancing to the live music of local artists, The Vines. Saturday festivities include the Hells Canyon Horse Show, a community-wide amateur recipe contest, and every child’s delight, The Magical Mr. Thumb.  Sunday morning begins with a pancake breakfast, local art contest and a 5K and 10K Fun Run benefiting Friends, a local non-profit youth mentoring program.  Both Saturday and Sunday activities feature professional cooking tips with sweet onions, including select Pacific Northwest BBQ Association recipes and a cooking demonstration and presentation by Mike Davis, executive chef and owner of 26brix; Jamie Guerin, executive chef of Whitehouse Crawford and Greg Schnorr, executive chef of CreekTown Cafe.

            “The Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival will show visitors to our community what Walla Walla has to offer,” said Mike Davis, foodservice spokesperson for the Sweet Onion Marketing Committee.  “The three day weekend celebrates the community and everything that makes our Valley unique, especially our Walla Walla sweets.”

            “People come from all over to get a taste of our Walla Walla sweeties,” said Kathy Fry, director of the Sweet Onion Marketing Committee.  “Summertime in the Walla Walla Valley is the ideal time to show visitors a little bit of everything in our foods, wines, arts and activities for all ages.

            For more information on the Sweet Onion Festival or the history of Walla Walla sweet onions, call (509) 525-1031 or visit www.sweetonions.org.

The Walla Walla Valley is a four-season destination. Spring and fall festivals, summer road rallies and rodeos, winter skiing and snowmobiling lure visitors all year long.  Less than a half day's drive from the population centers of the Pacific Northwest, Walla Walla offers history, art, music and theatrical performances, wineries and the great outdoors. For more information call 1-800-586-2193 or go to the web site at www.tww.travel.

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Media Contacts:        Hamilton McCulloh / Mary Dickson

Richmond Public Relations

(206) 682-6979 / cell: (206) 910-9797

hamiltonm@richmondpr.com