CHENEY-The ever-popular Mayfest celebration returned to the streets of Cheney last weekend after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. In its eighth year, the event hosted approximately 1,000 people and featured nearly 70 vendors, a corn hole tournament, and live music despite the wet weather.
Douglas LaBar, the owner of the Mason Jar and this year's Mayfest committee treasurer, wore many hats along with other committee members to make this event a fun gathering.
"I was super impressed because, being the first year back from COVID, I didn't know what to expect," LaBar said. "It really felt good and vibrant. It just felt like a really loved community."
LaBar's fellow committee members Debbie Anderson, Heather Gerard and Catherine Lowry all take on independent tasks that are required to put Mayfest together. LaBar urges fellow Cheney community members to take this annual event as an opportunity to support the town.
"We could always use more volunteers," LaBar said. "[The committee and I] are always finding ways to connect people to ways to engage. Mayfest is a way to show the uniqueness and awesomeness of Cheney in general."
LaBar was grateful to sponsors like Cheney Friend's Library, who held book sales to help contribute and support Mayfest.
He said a lot of weight tends to fall on the shoulders of the few and that it's essential to come together as a community to showcase the unique qualities of Cheney in particular.
Live music was one of the main events of the Mayfest, with Justin James performing on Friday night and four other local bands performing from late morning into the afternoon on Saturday.
Plaid Cat, a band with a Cheney fan base, took the stage in Art Alley, where they performed cowboy music, oldies and even originals for festival-goers.
Andrea Vaughn, a Plaid Cat member, was excited to be a part of the festivities.
"That was the first time we've [performed at the Mayfest] and we were blown away at how much has gone into it," Vaughn said. "It was very family-friendly and that's what we really like to play for. Our band motto is 'We play songs you thought you forgot on instruments you rarely hear".
Vaughn and other band members, Dan Vaughn and Barry Giles take on instruments like washboards, the ukulele bass and concertinas, which Vaughn describes as a hexagon accordion.
"We have an assortment of really odd instruments and we make them our own," Vaughn said.
The Cheney Mayfest is held on Mother's Day weekend every year. Visit cheneymerchants.org for more information on how to get involved in this event and other events in Cheney.
Michaela is a former newsroom intern at the Cheney Free Press. She covered stories on education, city government, cops/courts/fire departments and local businesses.
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