Entertainment

Flourishing as a hops, wine and agricultural capital, Yakima has a variety of themed events throughout the year – including sports, cars, shopping and more.

Music & Festivals

The Yakima Valley music entertainment scene offers a little bit of everything, with venues offering rock and blues bands, as well as folk, bluegrass and classical options.
The Capitol Theatre and The Seasons Performance Hall host regular musical performances throughout the year, while the Yakima Valley SunDome has played host to a variety of national acts over the years.

Classical music fans always enjoy the renowned Yakima Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the historic Capitol Theatre on South Third Street. Various restaurants host live music shows, and festivals held throughout the year offer great local acts.

Gambling & Bingo

Gaming has become an important part of the Yakima Valley tourism landscape, offering various casinos and cardrooms.

The Yakama Nation brought Las Vegas-style gambling to the area in 1998, and now has the largest casino in the area. It added a hotel in 2017.

There is also a bingo hall in neighboring Union Gap. Bingo is one of the least expensive methods of gambling, making it attractive to those who don’t want to spend a lot of money. The hall features a special place for pull-tab sales.

Outdoor Recreation

If you’re new to the Valley, or if you’ve lived here for 30 years, you won’t have to look far to find an outdoor activity that interests you. Yakima grants access to all the popular recreational activities that make the Pacific Northwest famous.

Outdoor adventures abound across the Yakima Valley, with abundant recreational opportunities to explore every season. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter; hiking, biking, climbing, camping in the spring, summer and fall. There are also opportunities for water sports nearby, such as kayaking, river rafting and paddle boarding.
Some of the Valley’s popular destinations include White Pass Ski Area, Yakima River Canyon areas, Cowiche Canyon and the Yakima Greenway.

Most of the recreation areas are intended for day use, though many allow overnight camping. Here you can find people fishing, boating, hiking, taking photography and floating the river.

Sports

Whether you’re a player or a spectator, the Yakima Valley is known as a great sports area, attracting teams from across the region for tournaments and special events.

The SOZO Sports Complex was built in 2016 in west Yakima and features 13 turf and grass fields for soccer, football and lacrosse. A new fieldhouse was added in 2017, offering indoor training opportunities for volleyball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse teams. A pair of indoor soccer facilities recently opened in Yakima. The Fieldhouse Yakima, off Fair Avenue, hosts youth and adult teams for futsal, a version of indoor soccer, while the Eagle’s Nest on South Sixth Street provides indoor soccer for youth teams.

There are also professional sports opportunities available for spectators, including the Yakima Valley Pippins baseball team.

Golf

The Yakima Valley is home to nearly a dozen great golf courses, with the endless sun providing at least nine months of playing opportunities around the Valley.

Golfers can choose from first-rate 18-hole courses like Apple Tree in West Valley, nine-hole municipal courses like Westwood West in Yakima, private courses like the Elks Club Golf Course in Selah, or nine-hole 3-par courses like Fisher Park in Yakima. There are both public and private courses available.