FOR MORE EVENTS VISIT: www.northwestsizzle.com/local-events
APRIL
April 12: Food Services of America Food Expo
The FSA Food Expo offers some of the best ways to get exclusive deals and access to information and services to help your operation grow. Held at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., join Food Services of America, 9am to 5:30pm, at the premiere food-service event in the Inland Northwest. Learn the latest trends in labor-saving entrée offerings, sample new items and menu ideas, meet with hundreds of vendors, talk with industry experts on how to build your business and more! FSAFood.com
April 22: Sip, Swirl and Savor
2017 marks the 10th anniversary of this spectacular event! Held once again at Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute in Spokane, 4000 W. Randolph Rd., Sip, Swirl and Savor is a decadent event that benefits the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy and the CCS Foundation. INCA students showcase their education by preparing and serving a gourmet, five-course dinner paired with award-winning wines. Throughout the evening, bid on marvelous live and silent auction items, including trips, collectible fine wines, private dinners, tickets to exclusive events and much more! CCSFoundation.org
April 28: Festival at Sandpoint Wine Tasting, Dinner and Auction
Held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, 4203 N. Boyer Rd., join The Festival at Sandpoint for this Festival FUNdraising Extravaganza! The event begins at 5:30pm and features unlimited tasting of more than 150 premium wines, five-star dinner catered by Dish, musical entertainment by Still Tipsy and the Hangovers, raffles, silent and live auction, and the announcement of the 2017 Festival line-up! Tickets are $95 per person and includes dinner, wine tasting, souvenir wine glass, entertainment and more! FestivalAtSandpoint.com
MAY
May 7: Bloomsday Run
Each year, Spokane is host to the beautiful Bloomsday Run, presented by the Lilac Bloomsday Association. This year marks the 41st year of this event, taking place 9am to 1:30pm. The 7.46-mile course is family friendly and open to all runners, walkers, wheelchairs, assisted wheelchairs and strollers. Online registrants have until Sunday, April 23, to take advantage of the $18 entry fee. For those registering afterward, the fee will increase to $35. BloomsdayRun.org
May 13-14: Spring Barrel Tasting
Spokane wineries host this raise-a-glass worthy event each spring during Mother’s Day weekend. Make a day of it—or weekend—and stop by participating wineries and enjoy all of the incredible wines these local Washington wineries have to offer. A great way to celebrate Mom over the weekend … exploring and tasting all of what Spokane has to offer! And it doesn’t hurt to fit in a little shopping in between tastings. Find participating wineries online. CorkDistrict.com
May 18-21: Lost in the ‘50s
Dust off those penny loafers and saddle shoes and prepare to enjoy a very special Sandpoint tradition. It’s a time of year we all look forward to, no matter what our age; a time to turn back the clocks to a simpler time. This is a community favorite not to be missed! Sandpoint’s 32nd Annual Lost in the ‘50s features terrific musical acts each night with concerts and dances. The four-day event includes Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven, a vintage car parade, street dances, show and dance, car show, Aspirin Rally-Run and more! Don’t miss all the action! Sandpoint.org/lostin50s
JUNE
June 2-4: MAC’s ArtFest
Artists from all over the Inland Northwest will gather in Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition for the 32nd annual ArtFest. This three-day annual community event, held the first weekend of June at Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition, offers fun for the entire family. Attendees will enjoy three days of art, live music, great food and more. More than 150 of the most talented artists from around the Northwest will be there with their creative works, packaged gourmet foods and handcrafted projects on display. Buy handcrafted works directly from the artists, and create your own special art at the Make it Art Kids Fair. NorthwestMuseum.org
June 9-11: Elkfest
Elkfest is unlike many area music festivals with its grassroots approach, very little outside sponsorship and a reputation for being Spokane’s best—and only—real neighborhood party each summer on the streets of the historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood in Spokane. ElkFest is free to enjoy from the street, with a $2 cover to come in their beer gardens or restaurants. Bands this year include: Afrolicious, The Donkeys, Dustin Thomas, Marshall McLean Band, Lanford Black, Shakewell, Folkinception, Nat Park and the Tunnels of Love, Griffey, Kalaj, Fat Lady, The South Hill, River City Roots and The Rub. The Seven 2 Draw Off will also put on live art battles! ElkFestSpokane.com
June 15-18: Crave! Food and Drink Celebration
Crave Northwest is the Inland Northwest’s premier food and drink celebration. Held at CenterPlace at Mirabeau Point Park, 2426 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley, Crave is a unique culinary event showcasing the creative talents of visionary chefs from around the Northwest. Savor the creative talents of award-winning chefs, specialty food purveyors, winemakers and craft drink providers. Culinary highlights include a grand tasting tent, global street foods carnivale, seafood bash, fire and smoke fare and Father’s Day brunch. CraveNW.com
June 16-17: Car d’Alene
This is a classic car weekend—just in time for Father’s Day—featuring 1975 and pre ’75 cars and trucks in the heart of Downtown Coeur d’Alene. To kick off the weekend fun, there’s the Car d’Lane Cruise Friday evening, 6 to 9pm, so head out to Sherman Avenue to enjoy the show. Saturday, 8am to 4pm, cars will be lining Sherman Avenue and on display for all ages to enjoy. Check out the beauties, talk to the owners, enjoy vendors and more! Awards will be presented in multiple categories starting at 4pm. CdADowntown.com
June 17: 10th Annual CHAFE 150 Gran Fondo
The ride starts and finishes in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille after winding into Montana through lush river valleys of the Cabinet Mountains. CHAFE 150 treats riders to seven fully stocked break stops, professional ride support, a larger-than-life after-ride party and prizes for top fundraisers. This event is staged by the Sandpoint Rotary Club to assist students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District on the autism spectrum. One in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. CHAFE150.org
June 17: The Pour Winemaker’s Dinner & Auction
An evening of wine, dine and purpose, The Pour is one of Washington’s most delicious wine events. The wine begins flowing at 5:30pm on the beautiful grounds of Arbor Crest Winery in Spokane, where wine lovers join forces to raise funds to benefit Providence Adult Day Health and the B.E.S.T. child psychiatry program at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. The event offers a spectacular evening of incredible auction packages, gourmet food and the finest vintages. The Pour includes a pre-dinner grand tasting as well as a selection of wines that are perfectly paired with four delectable courses. ThePour.info
June 24-25: HoopFest
Whether you are a player, a volunteer or a fan, Spokane Hoopfest has a place for you to enjoy the energy of more than 14,000 games played throughout the weekend. Hoopfest is the largest 3-on-3 outdoor basketball tournament on Earth. That means more than 6,000 teams, 3,000 volunteers, 225,000 fans and 450 courts spanning 45 city blocks! Few things capture the heart of a community and even fewer have become a movement like Spokane Hoopfest. SpokaneHoopfest.com
June 25: Schweitzer Summer Celebration
The grand opening weekend for Schweitzer Mountain Resort and the unofficial kickoff to summer for Sandpoint and Bonner County, Schweitzer’s Summer Fest, gives those in the community the opportunity to sample all of what’s great about Sandpoint. Local restaurants, retail stores, beer and wine producers, artists and musicians will all be at Schweitzer for the day! Their summer amenities will be in full swing, including the zip line, climbing wall and mountain biking. In addition, unlimited rides on the Great Escape Quad will be free! And, enjoy free chairlift rides 11am to 5pm. Schweitzer.com
June 25: IRONMAN 70.3
Held in scenic Coeur d’Alene, athletes begin their day with 1.2-mile swim in the clear waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Next, athletes take on the challenging 56-mile bike course boasting with turns, followed by the run that loops along the shores of the lake. This race follows the same course as IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene (which takes place in August), with athletes completing one loop of each discipline instead of two. This makes IRONMAN 70.3 Coeur d’Alene accessible to a broader audience and allows athletes to prepare on the same course if they are racing IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene. IRONMAN.com
JULY
July 8: Hayden Triathlon
The City of Hayden is proud to host the 7th Annual Hayden Sprint Triathlon, with its 1/2-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and finished off with a 3.1-mile run. The race venue features breathtaking scenery, with a challenging but friendly course. After the race, unwind at beautiful Honeysuckle Beach on Hayden Lake. All proceeds from the race are donated to worthy area charities that include kids’ sports, music and theatre, educational programs and any worthy recipient in need of funding. HaydenTri.com
July 15-16: Schweitzer’s 3rd Annual Northwest WineFest
Join Schweitzer at their third annual Northwest WineFest! The two-day festival is held on the Schweitzer Village Lawn and features great bands, great wine, great food and great fun! With multiple bands playing throughout the weekend paired with more than a dozen regional wineries offering dozens of wines, a craft beer tent, barbeque, arts and crafts vendors and activities for the entire family. Souvenir wine glass and tasting tickets can be purchased on site for you to get sipping. Vote for your favorite white and red wines, then purchase bottles of your favorites to take home. Schweitzer.com
July 21-22: JulyAmsh 2017
The 2017 JulyAmsh will be held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way in Coeur d’Alene. Admission is just $10 for this incredible event; free for children 12 and younger. This two-day cultural event is filled with Native-American activities for all to enjoy, bringing people together and signifying the spirit of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in celebration of heritage, diversity and culture. This is a rare opportunity to view the beauty of these diverse native cultures through their traditional crafts and performances of tribal dancing and music. JulyAmsh.com
July 23-25: Rypien Foundation Hope Classic
After 17 unbelievable years, the Zak!Charity Open, a premier charity event in the Inland Northwest, was officially passed to the Rypien Foundation last summer. Now the Rypien Foundation Hope Classic, they are continuing the tradition established by the Zak!Charity Open and still helping local children as the event has from the start. The two-day event kicks off July 23 with the Hope Lights the Way Dinner and Auction at Northern Quest Resort and Casino’s Pend Oreille Pavilion, 100 N. Hayford Rd. in Airway Heights, followed by the golf tournament at Kalispel Golf and Country Club, 2010 W. Waikiki Rd. in Spokane on July 24. RypienFoundation.org
AUGUST
August 3-13: Festival at Sandpoint
Sandpoint puts on one heck of a live music experience and has for the past 34 years. Each year, a variety of popular musicians, from country and rock to blues and orchestra, play in a beautiful outdoor setting. Already announced this year are country-star Jake Owen and classic rocker George Thorogood and The Destroyers. Attendees can buy a season pass to see all shows or choose to attend one or more of the events. Ticketed guests are also allowed to bring in their own food and beverages into the venue, adding to the feel of a backyard get-together. FestivalAtSandpoint.com
August 4-6: Art on the Green
For 49 seasons, artists from all across the Northwest have been flocking to Coeur d’Alene for a spectacular weekend of arts and crafts. Held on the beautiful campus of North Idaho College, adjacent to Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River, this is a summer favorite for the artsy and creative types. Paired with the Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes at City Park and the Coeur d’Alene Street Fair on Sherman Avenue, you’ll find more than 250 booths of artistry, food, crafts, home decoration and inspiration. All three celebrations are connected to each other and easily walkable. ArtOnTheGreenCdA.com
August 11-13 & August 18-20: Sandpoint Artists Studio Drive
Come celebrate the artistic community in the greater Sandpoint area at the annual Artists’ Studio Drive, where the public is invited to visit the working studios of painters, sculptors, jewelers, potters, glass artists and more. The Sandpoint area is filled with many artists who work in a variety of mediums. See where these artists create first hand while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains as you tour the studios. This event is free. ArtTourDrive.org
August 23-27: North Idaho Fair and Rodeo
There’s nothing that says family fun quite like a carnival. Each August, the Kootenai County Fairgrounds is host to the annual North Idaho State Fair, a five-day event with rides, food and fun! Featured attractions this year include the largest carnival in the state, the butterfly encounter with thousands of butterflies, youth circus with more than 100 performers, children’s theatre with marionettes and hand puppet performances, stilt walkers, all-aboard express train and more! And don’t forget about the grandstand shows and the animals! NorthIdahoStateFair.com
August 26: Priest Lake Triathlon
Swim, bike, run in magnificent Priest Lake. Swim course starts in front of the Hills Resort Lodge, 4777 W. Lakeshore Rd. in Priest Lake, on the very South end of the beach. The U-shaped course consists of a 1,500-meter swim (three 500-meter sections around the large swim buoys with the exit located on the south side of the furthest north dock). This is followed up with the 40-kilometer bike road course and 10-kilometer run. The event is followed by an awards party at Hill’s Resort Beach. PriestLakeRace.com
August 27: IRONMAN
Coeur d’Alene has been host to the IRONMAN Triathlon for years, and it is still voted as many of the triathletes’ favorite race courses around. This classic race takes place in the pristine heart of Coeur d’Alene. Athletes begin their day with a two-loop, 2.4-mile swim in Lake Coeur d’Alene, followed by the challenging two-loop, 112-mile bike course and completed with the 26.2-mile run that loops along the shores of the lake. This is an event you won’t want to miss. Get out there and support these incredible and inspiring athletes. IRONMANCdA.com
SEPTEMBER
August 30-September 4: Pig Out in the Park
Held during Labor Day Weekend at Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. in Spokane, 2017 marks the 38th annual Pig Out in the Park! Open daily 11am to 10pm, this favorite six-day food and free music festival offers a tasty menu of food and fun, with 44 food booths, 225 menu items, great food, cheap prices, three adult beverage gardens, special hours with $4 bites (3 to 5pm and 9 to10pm daily), 85 free concerts on three stages featuring national, regional and local artists, and the Pig Out’s largest ever arts and crafts fair and public market under the Pavilion. Fun for the whole family. SpokanePigOut.com
September 8-17: Spokane County Interstate Fair
Held at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. in Spokane, the annual Spokane County Interstate Fair is a perfect way to end the summer in grand style. The 10-day event begins the Friday after Labor Day each year, and as one of Spokane’s largest annual events, the Interstate Fair strives to be a place where one can visit the past, explore the future and enjoy the wonders of the present in a single location. Attendees will enjoy amusement rides, live music, animals, exhibits, food, grandstand entertainment (rodeo, demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls and freestyle motocross) and much more! SpokaneCounty.org/fair/sif
September 23-24: Valleyfest
ValleyFest offers events at three locations: CenterPlace Regional Event Center (2426 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley), Mirabeau Point Park (13500 Mirabeau Parkway in Spokane Valley) and Plantes Ferry Sports Complex (12308 E. Upriver Rive in Spokane). The weekend festivities include hot air balloon launches, pancake breakfast, car show, Mobius Planetarium, fishing at the falls, beer, wine and food garden including Valley Ale Fest, live music and entertainment, outdoor movie, TotFest, family bike ride and more! ValleyFest.org
FOR MORE EVENTS VISIT: www.northwestsizzle.com/local-events
