Good morning, Spokane.

The Great Pumpkinfest runs September 26-28 in Spokane and offers free family activities with over 10,000 pumpkins, a petting zoo, line dancing and face painting while pumpkin and raffle ticket sales benefit local charities—partners include ProjectID, Peak 7 Adventures and the Love Your Neighbor Foundation. Organizer Josh Loera said special pumpkins, including white and warty varieties, and raffle prizes such as Seahawks tickets and a round of golf add to the fun.

A three-day food and wine festival will be held at Davenport Hotels—guests can enjoy a selection of food and wine during the event.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld—famous for his NBC sitcom—will perform in Spokane on Feb.

20 at the First Interstate Center for the Arts as tickets starting at $72.50 go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 3.

Revenue numbers from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board show that alcohol and cannabis sales have steadily declined since 2019 — local business owners and a Gonzaga economics professor say the drop may reduce Spokane County’s tax revenue and force firms like Black Label Brewing and Lucky Leaf Dispensary to adapt their offerings. The shift is linked to younger consumers drinking less and increased competition from neighboring states.

Katia Passerini became Gonzaga University’s first female president in its 137-year history, delivering her inaugural address at McCarthey Athletic Center — a moment she said she had long envisioned.

She will work with students to build the university’s future despite a student protest — which urged divestment from munitions companies.

Riverside School District in Chattaroy is asking voters to approve a levy to replace aging HVAC systems because classrooms can get as hot as 85 degrees—ballots are mailed October 15 and Election Day is November 4.

The levy would cost about $60 per month for the average homeowner and also fund improvements to school security like new entrances and updated cameras.

Spokane will shift its Navigation Shelter from a 24/7 facility to a daytime-only center as 30 beds are relocated to serve an estimated 70 people during the day — city officials say the move addresses a gap in homeless services while critics worry it may leave fewer overnight options.

In August, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s private lands biologist Dean Nizer helped secure controlled hunting access by working closely with landowners in Spokane and Whitman counties and advising hunters on available secret spots – his work covered over 117000 acres and included guidance on reservations and permissions. His efforts also supported habitat projects and provided small payments to landowners, ensuring a balanced approach to public hunting on private lands.

Eastern Washington and Montana State will play today in Bozeman at 1 p.m.—coaches say both teams will rely on ball control and strong early scoring to boost their focus on conference play rather than nonconference records.

The Mt. Spokane Wildcats upset in-district rival Mead 16—14 on Friday at Union Stadium when junior quarterback Cade Strocsher threw a late touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Rock Franklin with 18.4 seconds left.

Mead led most of the game before Mt. Spokane rallied in the second half to secure a tense Greater Spokane League win.

Friday's high school football games in the Greater Spokane League saw Gonzaga Prep beat Cheney 31-14 as it built a 24-0 lead and tailback Jimmy Grainger rushed for 74 yards and three touchdowns.

Other games had Central Valley winning 48-6 over Ferris, Rogers scoring 20-6 against North Central, West Valley defeating Pullman 21-3, East Valley beating Deer Park 26-13 and Omak winning 42-0 over Clarkston—marking a busy day in prep football.

Some Like It Hot

1:00 – 2:30 PM — First Interstate Center for the Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience a top theater pick in Spokane with a dazzling performance.

EXIN BCS Artificial Intelligence Essentials Training

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Regus - Spokane Washington Trust — Cost info not provided — Dive deep into the essentials of Artificial Intelligence with this one-day training course.

VS Code Dev Days - Spokane

1-4 p.m. — IntelliTect — Free entry — Hands-on workshops to enhance coding skills using VS Code and GitHub Copilot.

Will Evans Live Concert

7:00-9:30 p.m. — Knitting Factory — Tickets available — Experience a unique fusion of folk and roots music with Will Evans and his eclectic performance style.

Demetri Martin Live

8:00 – 9:30 PM — Bing Crosby Theater — Tickets required — Enjoy a night of laughter with acclaimed standup comedian Demetri Martin.

Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Lexington SC Women's Soccer Match

6-9 p.m. — One Spokane Stadium — Tickets starting at $148 — Watch an exciting women's soccer match featuring local talent.

Spokane Symphony: Masterworks 2 - Landscapes

3-4:30 p.m. — The Fox Theater — Ticket info available — Experience a musical journey through iconic landscapes with timeless works by Debussy, Rautavaara, and Grieg.

Rachel Bradley: Beauty for Ashes

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Spokane Comedy Club — Ticket prices vary — Experience heartfelt laughter and storytelling from one of comedy's most original voices.

The Motet Live Performance

8-9:30 p.m. — The District Bar — Tickets available — Experience the infectious grooves of the legendary funk band The Motet.

Matt Maeson Live in Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — Knitting Factory — Tickets available — Experience the emotional and relatable music of Matt Maeson, a master of alternative anthems.