Revived chamber revives Cool Desert Nights

Cool Desert Nights is returning to its roots.

The popular classic car event will once again cruise through Richland in June, following a challenging few years that included Covid-19 and more than one sponsorship change.

And the business organization that started the event is returning to the helm.

“We’re really hoping people will come out, especially those who have that nostalgia for the event,” said Chandra Christenson, executive director of the Richland Chamber of Commerce, which is bringing back Cool Desert Nights this year.

The chamber is itself experiencing a revival. It reformed in 2022 and after Rob Welch and David Rose, two businessmen and former Richland mayors, banded together.

The Richland chamber had folded into the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce when that group formed via a merger about 16 years before.

The regional chamber ran Cool Desert Nights for years but announced in 2017 that it was stepping back from that event and the River of Fire Festival in Columbia Park to focus on other efforts. The West Richland Chamber stepped in to keep Cool Desert Nights going, but last year its cohost dropped out and the event didn’t happen.

It’s a Richland tradition

Now that the Richland chamber is back, it feels right to once again take on Cool Desert Nights, Rose said.

“We’re committed to it and want to keep it a tradition in Richland,” he said.

The city of Richland also is helping put on the event, and IBEW Local 12, HAPO Community Credit Union and the Port of Benton also stepped up as sponsors.

The chamber’s budget for the event is about $65,000, with the money coming from sponsorships, fundraising, registration and vendor fees.

Cool Desert Nights kicks off at 6 p.m. June 21 with the traditional cruise, followed by a “Party in the Park” put on by the city.

Richland Kiwanians will once again hold a pancake breakfast from 7-11 a.m. June 22 at Jefferson Park, and the Show ‘n Shine starts at 9 a.m. at the Uptown Shopping Center and Jefferson Park.

Music, food vendors, merchants and a kids zone are planned, and winners will be announced at 3 p.m.

A rebuilding year

This year’s event won’t include motorcycles, although chamber leaders said they hope to bring them back in the coming years. As of early June, about 150 cars were pre-registered; organizers were expecting at least 400 cars to sign up in time for the event.

Christenson and Rose both noted that it’s a rebuilding year, but they’re excited.

Christenson said that the event is good for the community beyond offering entertainment. “We have several hundred people coming into town, staying in our hotels and eating in our restaurants. It’s an anchor event for the city. It’s important that we continue to have events like this to capture nostalgia and build the chamber,” she said.

The chamber has about 40 members, with additional pending applications. It offers connection, networking and support, among other benefits.

Christenson and Rose look forward to seeing the chamber grow, along with Cool Desert Nights. Rose said he has many fond memories of the event, which made its debut 30 years ago, in 1994. And he’s heard from many people who wanted it back in Richland.

“Everything from this event this year, we’ll build on and keep making it better,” Rose said.

Go to: richlandchamber.org/cool-desert-nights.