Editing Spokane, Washington (section)

==Culture==
[[File:SpokaneFoxTheaterBalcony.jpg|thumb|left|alt=The art deco interior of the Fox Theater|The [[art deco]] interior of the [[Fox Theater (Spokane, Washington)|Fox Theater]]]]

===Arts and theater===
Spokane's main art districts are located in the Davenport Arts District, the [[Neighborhoods in Spokane, Washington#Garland|Garland Business District]], and East Sprague.<ref>{{cite news |last=Crane |first=Julianne |title=Take a walk for the arts |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date=April 1, 2004 |url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=040104&ID=s1504786 |access-date=December 7, 2014 |archive-date=August 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816145412/http://www.spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=040104&ID=s1504786 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The First Friday Artwalk, which occurs the first Friday of every month, is dedicated to local vendors and performers displaying art around downtown.<ref>{{cite web |title=First Friday |publisher=Downtown Spokane Partnership |url=http://www.downtownspokane.org/first-friday.php| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The two most important Artwalk dates (the first Friday of February and October) attract large crowds to the art districts.
The Davenport Arts District has the largest concentration of art galleries and is home to many of Spokane's main performing arts venues, including the [[Knitting Factory]], [[Fox Theater (Spokane, Washington)|Fox Theater]], and [[Bing Crosby Theater]]. The Knitting Factory is a concert house that serves as a setting for many mainstream touring musicians and acts. The [[Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox]], restored to its original 1931 Art Deco state after years of being derelict,<ref name="Fox" /> is home to the [[Spokane Symphony|Spokane Symphony Orchestra]]. The Metropolitan Performing Arts Center was restored in 1988 and renamed the Bing Crosby Theater in 2006 to honor the former Spokanite.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sowa |first=Tom |title=Met Theater will be renamed to honor Bing Crosby |newspaper=The Spokesman-Review |date=September 29, 2006 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2006/sep/29/met-theater-will-be-renamed-to-honor-bing-crosby| access-date = October 13, 2014}}</ref> Touring stand-up comedians are hosted by the Spokane Comedy Club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spokane Comedy Club |publisher=Spokane Comedy Club |url=http://www.spokanecomedyclub.com/pages/contact| access-date = February 18, 2017}}</ref> Theater is provided by Spokane's only resident professional company, The Modern Theater,<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |publisher=The Modern Theater |url=http://www.themoderntheater.org/| access-date = January 24, 2014}}</ref> though there are also the [[Spokane Civic Theatre]] and several other amateur community theaters and smaller groups. The [[First Interstate Center for the Arts]] often hosts large traveling exhibitions, shows, and tours. Spokane was awarded the [[All-America City Award]] by the [[National Civic League]] in 1974, 2004, and 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Winners of the All-America City Award |publisher=[[National Civic League]]| access-date = December 7, 2014 |url=http://www.allamericacityaward.com/things-to-know-about-all-america-city-award/past-winners-of-the-all-america-city-award/past-winners-of-the-all-america-city-award-1970s/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141205073247/http://www.allamericacityaward.com/things-to-know-about-all-america-city-award/past-winners-of-the-all-america-city-award/past-winners-of-the-all-america-city-award-1970s/| archive-date = December 5, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Spokane offers an array of musical performances catering to a variety of interests. Spokane's local music scene, however, is considered somewhat lacking by the Spokane All-Ages Music Initiative and other critics, who have identified a need for a legitimate all-ages venue for music performances.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spokane All-Ages Music Initiative (SAAMI) |url=http://profileengine.com/groups/profile/426979459/spokane-allages-music-initiative-saami |access-date=November 21, 2014 |archive-date=January 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117234634/http://profileengine.com/groups/profile/426979459/spokane-allages-music-initiative-saami |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Spokane Symphony presents a full season of classical music, and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra, a full season of jazz music.<ref>{{cite web |title=About SSO |publisher=Spokane Symphony |url=http://www.spokanesymphony.org/16,aboutsso| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane Jazz Orchestra, formed in 1962, is a 70-piece orchestra and non-profit organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=SJO History |publisher=Spokane Jazz Orchestra |url=http://www.spokanejazz.org/about-sjo/sjo-history| access-date = December 7, 2014| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201112310/http://www.spokanejazz.org/about-sjo/sjo-history| archive-date = February 1, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Museums===
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There are several museums in the city, most notably the [[Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture]], located a few blocks from the center of downtown in Browne's Addition, amid the mansions of Spokane's late 19th-century "Age of Elegance". A [[Smithsonian]] affiliate museum, it houses a large collection of Native American artifacts as well as regional and national traveling art exhibits.<ref name="MAC">{{cite web |title=About the MAC |publisher=Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture |url=http://northwestmuseum.org/about| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture |publisher=Smithsonian Affiliations |url=http://affiliations.si.edu/AffiliateDetail.Asp?AffiliateID=104| access-date = December 7, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141208211202/https://affiliations.si.edu/AffiliateDetail.Asp?AffiliateID=104| archive-date = December 8, 2014| url-status = dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Mobius Science Center and the related Mobius Kid's Museum in downtown Spokane seek to generate interest in [[STEM fields|science, technology, engineering, and math]] among the youth in a hands-on experience.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobius |publisher=Mobius Spokane |url=http://www.mobiusspokane.org| access-date = February 8, 2013}}</ref> The Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University features {{convert|2800|ft2}} of exhibition space and contains sizable collections of prints from the Bolker, Baruch, Jacobs, and [[Corita Kent]] collections.<ref name="Jundt" /><ref>Ware (2004), p. 339</ref> The museum houses glass art by [[Dale Chihuly]], bronze sculptures by [[Auguste Rodin]], tapestries, paintings, ceramics, photographs, and a wide range of gifts, including from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation and Collections.<ref name="Jundt">{{cite web |url=http://www.gonzaga.edu/Campus-Resources/Museums-and-Libraries/Jundt-Art-Museum/ |title=Jundt Art Museum |publisher=Gonazaga University|access-date=December 7, 2014}}</ref> On the campus of Gonzaga University, the Crosby House, Bing Crosby's childhood home, houses the Bing Crosby Memorabilia Room, the world's largest Crosby collection with around 200 pieces.<ref>Bao et al. (2014), p.461</ref> A museum of flight showcasing historic airplanes and curated by the Historic Flight Foundation is located at Felts Field.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/oct/09/businessman-and-aviation-enthusiast-opening-flying/ |title=Businessman and aviation enthusiast opening flying museum at Felts Field &#124; The Spokesman-Review |website=www.spokesman.com|date=October 9, 2019 }}</ref>

===Events and activities===
Spokane is known as the birthplace of the national movement started by [[Sonora Smart Dodd]] that led to the proposal and the eventual establishment of [[Father's Day (United States)|Father's Day]] as a [[List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation|national holiday]] in the U.S.<ref>Schmidt (1995), pp. 275–276</ref> The first observation of Father's Day in Spokane was on June 19, 1910.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |title=Father's Day is conceived by Spokane's Sonora Smart Dodd and celebrated for the first time in Spokane on June 19, 1910. |work=Essay 9458 |publisher=HistoryLink |date=June 17, 2010 |url=http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9458| access-date = November 15, 2014}}</ref> Sonora conceived the idea in Spokane's Central Methodist Episcopal Church, while listening to a Mother's Day sermon.<ref>Schmidt (1995), p. 276</ref>

[[File:Bloomsday 2008 - Fort George Wright Drive 20080504.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Runners participating in Spokane's annual Lilac Bloomsday Run| Lilac Bloomsday Run]]

The [[Lilac Bloomsday Run]], held in the spring on the first Sunday of May, is a {{convert|7.46|mi|km|adj=on}} race for competitive runners as well as walkers that attracts international competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |publisher=Lilac Bloomsday Association |url=http://www.bloomsdayrun.org/history-stats/history |access-date=December 7, 2014 |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510155232/http://www.bloomsdayrun.org/history-stats/history |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also in May is the Lilac Festival which honors the military, celebrates youth, and showcases the region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lilac Festival |publisher=Spokane Lilac Festival Association |url=http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/index.html| access-date = December 7, 2014| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015211941/http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/index.html| archive-date = October 15, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Spokane's unofficial nickname, the "[[Lilac]] City", refers to a flowering shrub that has flourished since its introduction to the area in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kiddo |first=Linda |title=History of the Spokane Lilac Festival |publisher=Spokane Lilac Festival |date=February 2004 |url=http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/history.html| access-date = December 15, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080424001505/http://www.spokanelilacfestival.org/history.html |archive-date = April 24, 2008}}</ref> In June the city hosts [[Spokane Hoopfest]], a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, among the largest of its kind.<ref>{{cite web |title=A History: 1990–present |publisher=Spokane Hoopfest Association |url=http://www.spokanehoopfest.net/organization/Pages/history.aspx| access-date = December 7, 2014| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141016010853/http://www.spokanehoopfest.net/organization/Pages/history.aspx| archive-date = October 16, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> One of Spokane's most popular local events is Pig Out in the Park, an annual six-day food and entertainment festival where attendees may eat a variety of foods and listen to free live music concerts featuring local, regional, and national recording artists in Riverfront Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pig Out In The Park |publisher=Burke Marketing |url=http://spokanepigout.com/| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

The Spokane International Film Festival, held every February, is a small, juried festival that features documentaries and [[Short film|shorts]] from around the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spokane International Film Festival |publisher=Spokane International Film Festival |url=http://spokanefilmfestival.org/| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> The Spokane Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, held every November, features contemporary, independent films of interest to the [[LGBT]] community.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spokane's LGBT Film Festival |publisher=Spokane Film Festival |url=http://www.spokanefilmfest.org/| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref>

Other notable events in the Spokane region include the Spokane County Interstate Fair, Japan Week, Spokane Pride Parade and the Lilac City Comicon. The Spokane County Interstate Fair is held annually in September at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center in [[Spokane Valley, Washington|Spokane Valley]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Fair |publisher=Spokane County Fair and Expo Center |url=https://www.spokanecounty.org/1079/About-the-Fair| access-date = July 6, 2019}}</ref> Japan Week is held in April and celebrates the sister-city relationship with [[Nishinomiya, Hyogo]], demonstrating the many commonalities shared between the two cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Japan Week Spokane |publisher=Japan Week Spokane |url=http://www.japanweekspokane.com/| access-date = December 7, 2014}}</ref> Students from the Spokane campus of [[Mukogawa Women's University|Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute]], Gonzaga, Whitworth, and other area schools organize an array of Japanese cultural events. The gay and lesbian Spokane Pride Parade is held each June.<ref>{{cite web |title=About OutSpokane |publisher=OutSpokane |url=http://www.outspokane.com/about_outspokane.html| access-date = December 7, 2014| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201133318/http://www.outspokane.com/about_outspokane.html| archive-date = February 1, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> There is an annual [[Renaissance fair]] and [[American Civil War reenactment|Civil War reenactment]] as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Spokane Renaissance Faire |publisher=The Spokane Renaissance Faire |url=http://www.spokanerenfaire.com/| access-date = August 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Battle of Deep Creek |publisher=Washington Civil War Association |url=http://spokanecivilwar.com/| access-date = August 21, 2016}}</ref>