Walla Walla Sweets Baseball
Nothing says summer like the sound of a crisp crack of a bat, the scent of freshly mowed grass, and in Walla Walla, the whiff of a sweet onion brat, all found at Borleske Stadium, an intimate venue and home to the Walla Walla Sweets Baseball team (part of the West Coast League, a summer league for collegiate athletes). With the season running June through early August, every game comes with perks – you can expect fireworks and live music on some dates with recurring promotions including $2 Tuesday ($2 section D tickets available while supplies last), Walk your Dog Wednesday (bring your dog to the game), and Thirsty Thursday (discounted beer through the seventh inning).
Walla Walla Sweets Roller Derby
Though they’re named after the beloved sweet onion, these ladies donned in quad roller skates embody a not-so-sweet persona on the track with names including Mari de los Muertos and Calcuslayer. But their prowess is all in the name of fast-paced, full-body contact sport entertainment. With an emphasis on female empowerment and community in and outside of the arena, the Sweets Roller Derby League – a non-profit organization – donates a portion of the proceeds from every bout played to a women’s or youth-focused charity. Home bouts typically take place on a Saturday June through September (2025 dates are June 14, August 23, September 27) at the Walla Walla YMCA.
Walla Walla Grit
The annual Walla Walla Grit cycling event takes place every year on the second Sunday in September with three wildly scenic and stunningly challenging courses – 45, 65, and 90 miles of gritty, silty, rocky terrain (the 2025 race will be on September 14). You can treat this as a race – though not a sanctioned event, it is timed – a killer ride, or ahem, survival. Kathryn and Michael Austin, former owners of Allegro Cyclery, launched the event in 2018 along with Matt Faunt, who co-designed the courses with Michael, in response to the ever-growing gravel cycling movement. The event starts at Quirk Brewing where riders gather after for some tasty, well-earned suds while awards are given out.
Swim The Snake
Join competitive and recreational swimmers, paddleboarders and kayakers alike in August (the 2025 swim/paddle is on August 9th) for this fun-filled event at Lyon’s Ferry State Park. Situated at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers, you’ll experience the dramatic, Ice Age flood-carved Palouse scenery from the water. What’s more, you’ll be swimming and/or paddling for a good cause – this annual fundraiser benefits the Blue Mountain RC&D (Resource Conservation and Development) Council which supports youth summer swim programs in Southeast Washington and other natural resource projects. You can find more information and registration details here.
Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool
Initially constructed after World War II to honor war veterans, this gem of an aquatic center made a highly anticipated splash in 2017 after it was completely revitalized and reopened after almost 10 years. The pool offers many ways to dip your toe in the water, with 25-yard and 50-meter lap lanes, 1 and 3-meter diving boards, 2 water slides, a splash pad, a leisure lagoon, and more, with The Copacabana Café offering refreshments. The award-winning facility hosts swim classes, swim teams, and water fitness classes. You can access the full pool schedule here.
Pickleball
Walla-Wallan’s were quick to respond to pickleball popularity by converting two tired tennis courts at Pioneer Park into 8 pickleball courts in 2015. Well received and outgrown quickly, in the fall of 2023, the city built 8 new courts at the snazzy Mill Creek Sports Complex which is now host to events Pickleball in the Park by PIG (Pickleball is Great) at the end of August (2025 dates are August 30th– September 1st), and The Sweet Onion Slam, which after a smashing success over Memorial Day weekend this year will return in 2026.
Pickle Ball Walla Walla is your go-to resource for all things pickleball with links to courts, groups and clubs, scheduling, and more.
Trail Running
There are a surprising number of places to lace up your running shoes and hit the trails in our neck of the woods (both literally and figurately). A number of options were chronicled in Trail Runner Magazine, including nearby Bennington Lake, where you can choose a leisurely route around the lake or veer off the main trail to extend your run. For some “vert” with 830 feet of elevation gain, head up the Blue Mountains into Oregon to the Umatilla Rim Trail, an 8.5-mile loop with views galore. Both newbies and veterans will enjoy the Umatilla Rim Ripper which takes place in September (the 2025 run takes place on September 20th), an event that includes a half marathon, 11K, and 7K distances. Also, let’s include a mention of the Jasper Mountain Trail Fest, an annual trail running event with a variety of distances each June (in 2025, taking place June 21; 2026 date is June 20) benefiting Jasper Mountain Reserve.
Rodeo
We take our rodeo very seriously in these parts and for good reason. For three nights in August (2025 dates are Friday, August 29th to Sunday, August 31st), the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) the oldest and largest rodeo organization in the world, draws some of the best cowboys and cowgirls as part of the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. Adrenaline-driven competitors will don their best hats and boots for roughstock events including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding, and timed events including steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and steer roping. It’s always a wild ride!
