In partnership with
Good morning, Spokane!
Not every Monday opens with a celebration in Riverfront Park, but this one does. The Indigenous Peoples Day gathering takes over the Lilac Bowl from 10 to 6:30, which is as good a reason as any to start the week outside. The forecast agrees with the plan: the week warms from the mid-50s to 72 and sunny by Friday.
In today's Spokane Pulse:
Chick-fil-A's second Spokane opening, and the county's public-safety tax vote
Six weeknight plans plus Chiefs hockey, Monday through Thursday
A whiskey festival, a symphony soirée, and a comedy club headliner
And much more!
Let's get to it.
— Laina & Lucas Wyland
Weekend Roundup
🆕 Chick-fil-A opens second Spokane location: The chain's second local restaurant opened Thursday at the Ruby and Sinto intersection, 104 E Mission Ave near Gonzaga, bringing about 120 new jobs. It is open Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
💵 Spokane County commission approves criminal justice sales tax increase: Commissioners voted 3-1 Tuesday for a 0.1% sales tax increase taking effect January 1, 2027, expected to raise more than $14 million in its first year for law enforcement and criminal justice, saving 40 deputy jobs. The county still faces a larger budget deficit.
🥕 Green Bluff growers rely on fall festival profits: For the bluff's roughly 30 independent farms, October is make-or-break: the fall festival crowds determine whether the whole year turns a profit. A smoky summer and high pumping costs made this season's stakes even higher.
🚧 Pines Road fully closes October 14–19: N. Pines Rd shuts down between Mirabeau Pkwy and E. Trent Ave starting 12:01 a.m. Wednesday for the new road alignment paving and the new Trent Elementary access. Detours run via University Rd and Sullivan Rd, with single-lane closures on Trent and Pines continuing into spring.
🎨 2,000 years of Christian history on display at St. John's Cathedral: The Episcopal cathedral's centennial exhibit traces Christianity from Bethlehem to the Inland Northwest with research panels, a 1902 Spokane panorama, and period furniture. It is free and open Thursdays through Saturdays until Nov. 14, with Chief Spokan Garry's original bibles showcased on special occasions including Nov. 7.
Spokane Business Beat
Now Open
🆕 Kindler's: Spokane Valley's new completely gluten-free fast-food restaurant at 14816 E Sprague Ave, built from scratch by a registered dietitian chef; South Hill and Millwood locations are coming next summer.
🆕 Nordstrom Rack at Northpointe Plaza: Opens Thursday, Oct. 15 at 8 a.m. in the revamped 31,000-square-foot former Big Lots space at 9612 N Newport Hwy, with online order pickup and returns.
Milestone
🎉 Kilgore Tec Products: The Spokane Valley building-envelope contractor is expanding its distribution territory and growing its local workforce by about 40%, with a goal of doubling sales within five years.
🎉 Swire Coca-Cola: Nearly a year after expanding its Spokane Valley facility, the distributor keeps growing: the warehouse now handles double its previous case volume, and the company employs more than 1,300 people across Washington.
🎉 Lilac & Pine: The Pacific Northwest-inspired restaurant at the Davenport Grand Hotel is settling into its first fall season after a $600,000 renovation transformed the former Table 13 space.
Tackle your credit card debt by paying 0% interest until nearly 2028
If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. Our credit card experts identified top credit cards that are perfect for anyone looking to pay down debt and not add to it! Click through to see what all the hype is about.
Events This Week
🤝 Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration
Riverfront Park hosts Spokane's 2026 Indigenous Peoples Day celebration, themed "Following the Elders," with programming all day at the Lilac Bowl.
Details: Monday, October 12, 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM at Lilac Bowl, Riverfront Park
Cost: Free
See More: Link
🎶 Virtuoso Violinist Simone Porter
Simone Porter joins the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra for an evening of Brahms, Smetana, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major.
Details: Monday, October 12, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM at Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
Cost: $16 - $31
See More: Link
🎭 & Juliet: The Musical
The Broadway tour flips the script on the greatest love story ever told: what if Juliet didn't end it all over Romeo? Pop anthems carry her second chance.
Details: Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 PM at First Interstate Center of the Arts
See More: Link
🔥 Spokane Chiefs vs Everett Silvertips
The Chiefs host Everett on magnet giveaway night, their third matchup of the young season. Puck drops at 7:05.
Details: Tuesday, October 13, 7:05 PM at Numerica Veterans Arena
See More: Link
🎤 Jon Meacham
The presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author sits down for a conversation as part of Whitworth University's President's Leadership Forum and the Northwest Passages series.
Details: Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 PM at Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox
See More: Link
🎭 Peter Pan Goes Wrong
The Cornley Drama Society's hapless attempt at J.M. Barrie's classic collapses into comic catastrophe on the Civic's main stage. Expect misfiring props and flying mishaps.
Details: Thursday, October 15, 7:30 PM at Spokane Civic Theatre, Margot and Robert Ogden Main Stage
Cost: $20 - $40 + $6.50 service fee
See More: Link
🎤 Elizabeth Gilbert: All the Way to the River
Auntie's Bookstore brings the bestselling author to the Central Library to present her latest book, with a signed paperback included with admission.
Details: Thursday, October 15, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM at Spokane Public Library - Central, nxʷyxʷyetkʷ Hall, 3rd floor
Cost: $26
See More: Link
Partner With Us
Get Your Business Featured
Get your business, service, event, or announcement promoted in front of 7,500+ engaged Spokane readers.
On the Horizon
🎉 2026 Spokane Whiskey Festival: Dozens of distilleries pour at the Spokane Valley Event Center, with $79 festival and $135 VIP tiers plus designated-driver tickets; 21+. (October 23)
🎭 The Minutes: The Civic's razor-sharp town-hall comedy runs through Nov. 1 at the Firth J Chew Studio Theatre; adults $30, students and teachers $20. (October 22)
🎶 Emo Nite: Knitting Factory's emo-night dance party returns for an all-ages evening of anthems. (October 23)
🎵 Chamber Soirée at the Historic Davenport Hotel: The Spokane Symphony's intimate chamber series plays the Davenport Grand across two nights, with the Thursday show at 7:30 PM as the in-window pick. (October 22)
🤝 Cooking for a Cause: Aged to Perfection: Meals on Wheels Greater Spokane County marks 55 years at the Shriners Event Center with a $100,000 fundraising goal. (October 23)
😂 Dan LaMorte: The Comedy Club's Thursday headliner brings his stand-up to the downtown stage; general admission $26, premium $34.50. (October 22)
Community Question
The Adoption Triad gathering meets Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Woman's Club of Spokane (1428 W 9th Ave) in Cliff-Cannon, a free evening for everyone in the adoption constellation: adoptees, birth and first parents, adoptive parents, and siblings. Come to connect, ask questions, and trade experiences. All are welcome. (Details)
Thank You!
Thanks for reading Spokane Pulse today. If you found something useful, please share our Newsletter and Instagram with someone you know.