Spokane, WA, July 9, 2024 – Each year, the Historic Wallace Blues Festival brings community together to celebrate live music and the vibrancy of downtown Wallace. With tickets sold and bands booked to perform this weekend, event organizers abruptly cancelled the event last week citing technical difficulties.  

Stepping in to ensure this music tradition can continue, generous community leaders, businesses and donors – including Innovia – are raising funds and rallying to organize a new event honoring Wallace’s vibrant and resilient community spirit.  

Under the new name of Wallace Music Fest, the event will capture the essence of the beloved blues festival while accommodating current challenges. The Fest kicks off on Thursday, July 11, and runs through Saturday, July 13. 

Wallace Music Fest will showcase the talented musicians of over 25 bands that will play across eight venues, all free to the public. Each show will be hosted by local Wallace businesses that worked with coordinators to book the musicians and draw visitors to the event. 

“A group of businesses within the Wallace district and supporters of those businesses are coming together to turn this bad situation into a wonderful experience, filled with joy and support for each other,” says Marcy Hayman, an event organizer. “We’re just so proud to be from this community.”   

Music has a unique ability to bridge divides, create social connections and promote understanding among people from all walks of life. As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, Innovia actively seeks opportunities to enrich communities by promoting vibrant and accessible experiences in arts and culture, including music. This year, in recognition of Innovia’s 50th Anniversary theme of “Celebrating Community,” the Foundation is investing in free and low-cost events and opportunities, like Wallace Music Fest, that bring people together. 

“Music serves as a bridge, linking communities through shared experiences,” says Shelly O’Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation. “We are honored to partner with the Wallace community to ensure that this important opportunity for community connection and musical celebration will not be missed.” 

For more information on the event’s line-up, visit: goinnovia.org/WallaceMusicFest. 

Innovia’s investment in the Wallace Music Fest is part of a series of events and activities Innovia is gifting to communities across Eastern Washington and North Idaho in celebration of the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary in 2024. More information about these events can be found at innovia.org/fifty. 

Celebrating Community in 2024  

Together with media partner NonStop Local KHQ, Innovia is Celebrating Community, a year-long, region-wide celebration of the volunteers, citizens and organizations that have faithfully served the needs of communities for 50 years in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Each month, Innovia will gift the region with free, inclusive, family-friendly activities and experiences to commemorate the Foundation’s past, present and future of bringing people together to transform lives and communities. Event details will be released at the beginning of each month throughout 2024.  

50th Anniversary Calendar of Events  

In addition to Innovia-sponsored community events, the Foundation has launched an online calendar where individuals and organizations can submit information about celebrations and activities in their community. The calendar is open to any events within the Foundation’s region that are free or low-cost, family-friendly and have a broad community appeal. Calendar entries can be submitted at innovia.org/fifty.   

Photo Drawing  

Community members who attend Innovia-sponsored community events this year are invited to submit their photos from the event for a chance to win a photo drawing. Winners will be selected in March, June, September and December to receive a $250 grant to a nonprofit of their choice. Entries can be submitted by posting photos on Instagram with the hashtag #innoviacelebratescommunity or by submitting through an online form. Full drawing details and rules, including the online submission form, can be found at innovia.org/fifty.  

About Innovia Foundation  

As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better. We work together to identify and respond to our region’s greatest opportunities, help those in need, and leave a lasting impact. Our mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. We envision vibrant and sustainable communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive. Each year, Innovia Foundation invests $10 million into our communities through grants and scholarships. 

Innovia Foundation is proud to partner with NonStop Local KHQ for community coverage of these family-friendly free events.