For more information:

Timothy Bishop

Ellensburg Downtown Association Director

(509) 962-6246

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ellensburg to Host May 12 Tourism and Heritage Event
Downtown Will be Hopping with Activity

Ellensburg, Wash. (April 26, 2007) - After winning a prestigious National Trust for Historic Preservation award, Ellensburg is gearing up for a tourism and heritage event that will showcase the very things that make this city a distinctive destination.

The May 12 festival - Destination Ellensburg: A Community Celebration - will highlight the best of Ellensburg and its surrounding area's annual festivals as well as its cultural events. Also on that day will be Central Washington University's Family Weekend, Gallery One's Margaritaburg and the Kittitas County Farmers Market.

It promises to be an excellent day, with a downtown sidewalk sale, live music, historic walking tours, a scavenger hunt hosted by Morgan Middle School, raffles and more. Parents visiting for CWU's Family Weekend should not miss this opportunity to shop and learn more about Ellensburg.

"We really want to showcase all the great community events we have here in Kittitas County," said Ellensburg Downtown Association Director Timothy Bishop. "And it works well to host it in May, which is National Historic Preservation month."

A group of several people, including historians, local downtown business owners and city officials, have been meeting regularly to plan the event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout downtown Ellensburg.

City officials hope by promoting Ellensburg's many festivals and cultural attractions, more tourists will find their way to this historic location.

"The average tourist spends $110 to $125 per day," said Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce Director Ron Cridlebaugh. "Business in our downtown core, as well as those in the surrounding area, will benefit from the May 12 event. Coinciding attractions, such as the sidewalk sale, Kittitas County Farmers Market and Gallery One's Margaritaburg will bring in even more people that weekend."

The scavenger hunt, organized by Morgan Middle School students, will "focus on the historic architecture of Ellensburg, requiring participants to locate and identify certain historic features people may not ordinarily notice," said Historic Ellensburg Vice President Fennelle Miller.

Miller, along with Bishop, Cridlebaugh and others, spent many months preparing a nomination that eventually named Ellensburg one of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations, given by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

"Our hope is that this event will attract a significant number of visitors to Ellensburg over the weekend and by showcasing the visitor attractions and events that happen throughout the year, build an increased awareness of Ellensburg as a year-round visitor destination," Miller said.

Several festivals and tourist attractions have already reserved tables, including the chamber's annual events, such as WinterHop BrewFest, Bite of the Burg and Jazz in the Valley, the Ellensburg Film Festival, Central Washington University, the Thorp Mill, South Cle Elum Depot, Historic Ellensburg, the Ellensburg Downtown Association, and many others.

Room still remains for those interested in participating and table reservation is free. Those interested in attending must man their table throughout the event and bring promotional materials, as well as chairs.

To sign up, contact the Downtown Association at (509) 962-6246, or the Chamber of Commerce at (509) 925-2002.