For years, Kennewick's holiday season had a December anchor you could drive to. That anchor is gone. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business reported in November 2025 that Senske had ended its holiday light show, moved its headquarters, and no longer occupied the former show grounds at 400 N. Quay St.
In 2026 the gap is filled by a run of November weekends: bazaars in church halls and senior communities, a wine festival, a food truck park with a fall fest, and a few new places to eat. All of it builds toward one fixed date, downtown's Hometown Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 5. This is the map, from early November to the parade.
The season now starts in November
Without a light show to plan around, the dated events on the Kennewick calendar spread out across November. The 2026 holiday bazaar roundup from the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, published Sept. 28, lists Kennewick bazaars on Nov. 5, Nov. 14, Nov. 21, and Dec. 5. Toyota Center has Tri-City Americans home games and touring shows on most November weekends. Downtown has set its parade date and opened applications for floats.
One caution before you plan anything. That bazaar roundup came out in late September, and small events move. Check with the organizer before you load the car.
Start on West Skagit Avenue, where the food got new
If you're spending a Saturday at bazaars, you'll need lunch somewhere. The 6400 block of W. Skagit Ave. has had more changes this fall than any other stretch of Kennewick restaurants.
Vava's Waffles, under new owners
Vava's Waffles at 6494 W. Skagit Ave. closed for part of August while the previous owners' lease wound down, according to the Tri-City Herald. Ryan Combs and Sushma Bishwakarma took over in September and reopened on Friday, Oct. 9. The Herald's report on the reopening describes a menu of Oreo-covered waffles, s'mores, and pizza on a waffle base. The new owners plan to add Nepali dishes such as momos over time. If you're going for momos, call ahead. They were reported as planned, not on the menu yet.
Summer's Hub, across the street
Summer's Hub at 6481 W. Skagit Ave. calls itself a family-oriented spot for food trucks, taps, local wines, seating, music, and weekend markets. Its website lists daily hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with separate schedules for some vendors.
The biggest change there this fall is Casa Rosita. The Mexican food truck moved to Summer's Hub after six years at The Flower Farm, owner Mike Chavez told the Tri-City Herald in September. The Herald said the hours would stay the same. Casa Rosita's website lists Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed Mondays.
The Hub is also hosting one of the season's first Saturday events. Its Fall Fest runs Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is all ages, doors open at 10 a.m., and the listing promotes browsing local vendors.
The rest of the fall food news
Away from Skagit, three other changes are worth knowing about:
- Sifithu Pizza & Bar, 4112 W. 24th Ave., had a grand opening scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12, and its site lists that address and its hours.
- Café Magnolia is moving to 4309 W. 27th Place at The Falls, just around the corner from its current spot at the 27th Avenue roundabout. Owners Nena and Chad Langford are already booking private events for the new space. It's still under construction, with no opening date announced.
- Burgerville USA, the chain's first Tri-Cities location, is converting the former Sonic Drive-In at 8600 W. Gage Blvd., near Costco, and adding indoor dining. No opening date has been announced.
One goodbye falls in the same stretch. David Stenoien and Kavita Patel-Stenoien plan to serve their last meal from the Fast & Curryous food truck just before Thanksgiving, after almost 10 years of Indian-inspired food at sites around the Tri-Cities. The Herald reports they'll focus on their retail simmer sauces and on cooking classes. Their Tikka Masala, Saag, Korma, and Creamy Coconut sauces are sold at the Richland Yoke's Fresh Market locations and the Tri-Cities Food Co-Op. If the truck is part of your routine, you have until just before Thanksgiving.
Nov. 14 is the day everything lands at once
Most November Saturdays in Kennewick have one or two dated events. Saturday, Nov. 14 has six, plus a hockey game the night before. If you only plan one day this month, make it this one.
| Time | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Affinity at Southridge Bazaar | 5207 W. Hildebrand Blvd. |
| 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Southridge Music Boosters Holiday Bazaar | Southridge High School, 3520 Southridge Blvd. |
| 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Scandinavian Bake Sale + Bazaar | First Lutheran Church, 418 N. Yelm St. |
| 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Holiday Vibes | Springhill Suites, 7048 W. Grandridge Blvd. |
| 6:05 p.m. | Tri-City Americans vs. Everett Silvertips | Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd. |
| 7 to 10 p.m. | Tri-Cities Wine Festival | Three Rivers Convention Center |
The layout makes the day easier than it looks. The two Hildebrand and Southridge stops are close together on the south side of town. Holiday Vibes, Toyota Center, and the convention center all sit along Grandridge, so the afternoon and evening stay in one area. The Scandinavian Bake Sale at First Lutheran is the outlier on N. Yelm St., and it closes first, at 1 p.m. If baked goods are your priority, go there first.
The evening has two choices that overlap. The Americans drop the puck at 6:05 p.m., and the Tri-Cities Wine Festival starts at 7 p.m. with tastings, hors d'oeuvres, and live entertainment. If hockey is the bigger draw, the Americans also host the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:05 p.m.
The rest of the month, in order
Nov. 14 is the peak, but the dated events start in the first week of November and keep going through Thanksgiving weekend. Times and venues come from the bazaar roundup and the Toyota Center schedule on Ticketmaster.
- Thursday, Nov. 5: Riverwalk Estates Holiday Bazaar, 9 a.m. to noon, 4704 W. Hildebrand Blvd.
- Friday, Nov. 6: Jo Koy's Koy Meets World Tour at Toyota Center, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 7: Summer's Hub Fall Fest, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 6481 W. Skagit Ave.
- Sunday, Nov. 8: Grand opening for Lit by Yenny, a new shop at 3311 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite D214, noon to 4 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14: See the Nov. 14 table above.
- Saturday, Nov. 21: Make a Difference Christmas Bazaar at Calvary Chapel Tri-Cities, 10611 W. Clearwater Ave. The roundup doesn't list a time. Tri-City Americans vs. Victoria Royals at 6:05 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 27: Tri-City Americans vs. Penticton Vees, 7:05 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 28: Ramon Ayala, Historia De Un Final, at Toyota Center, 8:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 29: Tri-City Americans vs. Portland Winterhawks, 4:05 p.m.
Thanksgiving weekend matters most if you're hosting family. Toyota Center has something on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and the Sunday game's 4:05 p.m. puck drop leaves time for guests to get home before dark.
Dec. 5 is where it all ends up
The Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership has set the 2026 Hometown Holiday Parade for Saturday, Dec. 5. The parade starts at 10 a.m., and the downtown event runs until 2 p.m. Organizers describe holiday floats, police and fire vehicles, and costumed characters. After the parade, Santa moves to Santa Square for activities, treats, and selfies.
If your business, club, or team wants to be in the parade, applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 11:59 p.m. That's the night before Thanksgiving, so it's easy to miss. Organizers say approved participants get a confirmation letter with instructions, and staging starts at 7 a.m. on parade day.
The same Saturday has two more events. The Lincoln Holiday Bazaar runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary, 4901 W. 21st Ave. That night, the Tri-City Americans host the Vancouver Giants at 6:05 p.m. The next afternoon, Sunday, Dec. 6, Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland plays Toyota Center at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For more on the city between events, my Kennewick neighborhood page collects what I've written about it, including the late-summer guide that covered the July-to-August version of this calendar.
If you're hosting family this November and want suggestions for the weekend, or you're starting to think about a move in the new year and want someone who follows the Kennewick calendar this closely, I'd love to hear from you. Kelsie Knight is happy to set up a time to talk, so go ahead and schedule a consultation.
