Pullman is set to celebrate the National Lentil Festival this Saturday at Reaney Park from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Alexis Foran, director of the Lentil Festival, said there is no better way to bring people to Pullman and show them how we welcome them to our community than at the Lentil Festival.
“It is the event that really underscores our community, and the heart of our community, and our histories, our agricultural roots,” Foran said.
The National Lentil Festival started in 1989 and it was the brainchild of some passionate community leaders who wanted to celebrate Pullman’s agricultural history, Foran said.
Pullman was the leading grower of lentils in the country, surrounded by healthy soil farmland, which was a milestone to celebrate in those days, Foran said.
“The Lentil Festival was a perfect way to marry both the community and history into celebration,” Foran said.
This was also the time when the mascots “Tase T. Lentil” were created along with two companions, “Dan D. Pea and Chelsea Chickpea,” Foran said.
The WSECU Grand Parade is at 11 a.m. on Main Street, and the Gazebo stage has a cooking demonstration at 3 p.m., Foran said.
Chef Jacob, Chef Jayson and Chef Cynthia Monroe would demonstrate lentil recipes that include Tuscan-style white bean salad with shrimp and lentils, lentil caprese bruschetta and Pacific Northwest-inspired one-pan creamy lentils.
The culminating factor is the local lentil sourced and brought over to WSU catering, who prepare the 600-gallon vat lentil chili for the world’s largest chili bowl according to the Guinness World Records, Foran said.
This lentil chili is served for free to everybody in the community at 5 p.m.
The music lineup this year includes artists with large regional and national followings, Foran said. Many genres will be represented.
Tony Poston, entertainment director for the Lentil Festival, said this is his 12th year booking all the bands for the main stage.
Poston said a culmination of local bands and nationally touring bands has a lineup of seven acts beginning at noon and going on until 10 p.m.
The headliner, The Brothers Comatose from California, is a bluegrass theatrical music band. They begin at 8:45 p.m., Poston said. Bands from Seattle, Spokane and Portland are also making the trip to Pullman.
“Every year I change it up,” Poston said. In the past, pop artists, American Idol winners and country music stars from Nashville have all visited the lentil festival to play.
With seven different bands come seven different styles of music to appeal to everyone while keeping it in the family-friendly and upbeat music energy that people can dance to, Poston said.
Poston said he lists the bands that are in the area during the Lentil Festival and fit in the budget and begins sending out offers by early spring to have the lineup announced by April.
Poston recalled getting a chance to perform on stage with Eclectic Approach, a band he used to manage and is playing with again this year.
“It was really cool to get on stage and share it with some friends that I have known for over 20 years,” Poston said.
The sports tournaments at the Lentil Festival begin at 9 a.m. The softball tournament, 3 v. 3 Hoop Classic and 5K are some of the events run by the Parks and Recreation.
Megan Vining, recreation manager, said these tournaments receive over 200 participants most years.
The 5K has been a Parks and Recreation event since 2019; however, it used to be sponsored by the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, Vining said.
Vining said Parks and Recreation events celebrate the National Lentil Festival while aiming to enhance the quality of life and community well-being by offering diverse and high-quality Parks and Recreation programs.
“We strive for creating a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone enjoys enriching recreational experiences and our events create additional community engagement opportunities,” Vining said.
Balloon artists, face painting, coloring crafts and bubbling zone and photo with the mascot opportunities for children are also available at the festival.
There is the SEL science tent for future thinkers and “Lil’ Lentil King” and coronation to get the kids engaged, Foran said.
“It’s action-packed from the beginning to the end,” Foran said.
The Downtown Pullman Association is hosting a Lentil Fest Friday kick-off event, the Lentil Crawl for all ages, Foran said. Participating restaurants in downtown Pullman have included the lentils in their menu for the evening.
The Lentil Crawl will begin by 3 p.m. and go until 10 p.m. Lumberyard, Porchlight Pizza, Etsi Bravo, Black Cypress, Rico’s, Pups & Cups, Mela, Nayarit, Paradise Creek, Hotel McCoy and Neill’s Coffee are some restaurants and cafes participating in the Lentil Crawl.
There will be cocktails and mocktails incorporating lentils as well as live music near Neill Public Library, Foran said.
Andres Filipe, Jodi Fisher, Refrond Band and Muzzie Braun will be playing live music at the Lentil Crawl.
“The Lentil Festival really celebrates our identity, it is community-based, community-focussed, community-centered and it is all in our agricultural roots,” Foran said.
