Pendleton Convention Center staff makes magic happen twice
By Terry Murry on Friday, September 11th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton Convention Center has been staging events for businesses and organizations renting its facilities. Now, over the last two years, it has produced two events of its very own.
Pendleton Idol is held in the winter. This year Pendleton’s Got Talent earned a spot on the August calendar. Manager Pat Beard credits his staff with the two highly successful events.
“I work with some of the most amazing people in the world,” Beard said. They are I-dotters and T-crossers, and so imaginative. They have so many great skills.”
Beard said the staff got together for a general discussion, and the employees deserve all the credit.
“We just talked about some kind of an event,” he said. “They came up with the whole Pendleton Idol and then that spun off into Pendleton’s Got Talent.”
Beard said Pendleton Idol sold out the convention center and featured “tremendous talent.” In its first year, Pendleton’s Got Talent was attended by about 300 people. Beard predicts both events will return next year.
