A Festival of Fun

By the vast cool waters of Lake Pend Oreille beneath starry evening skies, musical magic comes to Sandpoint every August and has done so since 1983. It’s the Festival at Sandpoint — a family tradition, a famous annual occasion, a musical pilgrimage for annual attendees and an honor welcomed by musicians of phenomenal fame.

As big as the heart of the town that hosts it, the Festival began as a vision of local volunteers to introduce symphonic music to the area and provide the community with an economic boost. Accordingly, the premiere season featured three concerts with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

Since then, the Festival has flourished beyond all imagined horizons and is now a two-week sold-out series of concerts in an eclectic range of jazz, blues, country, folk, world, rock and pop. And yet, true to the root of its original intention, the Festival always culminates with a grand finale by the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

Sandpoint resident and musician Dave Gunter thoroughly enjoys all that the Festival has to offer. And he has been on both sides of the event as performer and spectator.

“The Festival at Sandpoint is like your cool uncle who used to come to town for a couple weeks in the summer — full of surprises and fun to be around. I have watched it grow from the first year to present day. Watched as it hit hard times and then came back stronger and better than ever,” said Gunter. “I've been lucky to have been on the stage, in the audience and on the board of the Festival. Each aspect was a reminder of what a rare gem we have in this sublime little summer concert series.”

With people traveling great distances to see the performances, the Festival is a huge economic boost to not only the businesses in Sandpoint but the non-profits as well. “I’ve worked in the Panida Theater ice cream booth for six Festivals – it’s the main Panida fundraiser. And sometimes even when it’s hectic and lots of people are lined up to order, a certain song will come on and suddenly everyone just stands still and listens. It’s magic,” local Ron Ragone said.

Kate McAlister said she is fortunate to enjoy each and every night of the Festival and looks forward to it each year. "I'm one of the lucky ones who live near the Festival! I not only get to go to it, I get to enjoy it on the other nights too. We love sitting outside on our deck and listening to the music drifting toward us. It's wonderful!" McAlister said.

Each season’s talent line-up is enough to widen the eyes of any music-lover, and the tickets begin to take wing far in advance of the event. Held in the open air and covered only by stars, the intimate setting is the emotional cornerstone of the Festival’s success. Although there is abundant seating, listeners gathered on blankets beneath a darkening sky are a hallmark of the event. Enthusiastic crowds are a vibrant fulfillment of the Festival’s original mission: “to make exceptional musicians and great performances accessible to the community and the surrounding region.”

This 33rd annual summer concert series, August 6 through 16, showcases eight nights of classic favorites and progressive artists with headliners Arlo Guthrie, Ziggy Marley, Vince Gill, Lake Street Dive, Trampled By Turtles, The Devil Makes Three and Wilco, as well as supporting stars and local favorites, including Jonatha Brooke, Maw Band, The Barefoot Movement, Troy Bullock, The Ballroom Thieves, Vetiver and Owen & McCoy.

Festival lovers, we’ll see you there! And if you’ve never been to this yearly musical celebration of community and camaraderie? You know what to do!

Things to know before you go

The concerts take place at Memorial Field, 855 Ontario Street. Individual concert prices vary. Go to festivalatsandpoint.com for complete information.

The Festival line policy is designed to reward attendees for being early while leaving them free to enjoy a summer day in town. Seating is “festival style” meaning, blankets and lawn chairs. This means the earlier you arrive, the more choices you’ll have to get your preferred viewing spot. Some concert-goers arrive as early as 5am to get in line for the front of the stage! Festival organizers begin handing out numbers around 8am and at intervals throughout the day to about 300 people. With each number, a person is allowed to receive a place in line for a party of four.

Spaces are limited by an 8- by 8-foot blanket or chair set up. Only low chairs are permitted in the blanket area. Other lawn chairs are permitted behind the blanket area. After the people with numbers are admitted, general admission begins. In other words – prepare for a line. Smoking is not permitted in the field. Concessions are available for purchase, and patrons are permitted to bring food and drink as well. Memorial Field is accessible for individuals with disabilities.

The Festival gives back

Helping the youth to love music and make music The Festival works cooperatively with other organizations and schools in the region to present a variety of educational programs to inspire, educate and assist area youth:

Fifth Grade Outreach: To inspire students to join their sixth grade bands, the Festival sponsors a community-based educational program with school and gives free tickets for more than 800 kids and their families to attend with the Family or Grande Finale symphonic concerts. The Instrument Assistance Program takes the next step, helping aspiring band members with rental instruments.

Family Concert: A musical afternoon for kids and their families, with pre-concert activities to charm the heart of any child, including the ever-popular “Instrument Petting Zoo” where children can try various instruments.

Youth Strings Orchestra: Sponsoring all levels of string ensembles, this program also provides cellos, a summer cello camp and instruction.

Scholarships: The annual Festival Music Scholarship is awarded to the top Bonner County student instrumentalist who is planning to pursue a future in music. The Festival also presents a scholarship in conjunction with the Angels Over Sandpoint, rotating its focus annually to encourage various aspects of the arts: Visual Arts, Theater/Dance, Vocal Performance and Writing.

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