Scorching fun arrives in Lake City
Amidst a flurry of activity Thursday afternoon, Coeur d'Alene resident Scott Dodson and his son Jonathan build the Art on the Green sandcastle. "This is our 23rd year," Dodson said.
ELLI GOLDMAN HILBERT/Press
The grounds of North Idaho College are a bustle of activity as setup takes place Thursday for a trio of downtown events, starting today.
COEUR d’ALENE — Hot!
That describes both the weather and the weekend event lineup in downtown Coeur d'Alene, starting this morning.
Three festivals combine to offer entertainment, art, crafts, food and other items through Sunday.
Smack-dab in the center is Taste of Coeur d’Alene at City Park, surrounded by Art on the Green on the North Idaho College campus and the Downtown Coeur d’Alene Street Fair filling much of Sherman Avenue.
Pack hats and plenty of sunblock as three days of scorching hot weather is in store. Press meteorologist Randy Mann said Thursday that today could hit 101 degrees. Saturday should be clear and sunny with a high near 103. Expect smoky haze both days.
Sunday should be a tad cooler and cloudy with a high temperature around 90 and a 30 percent chance of showers after 11 a.m.
Taste of Coeur d’Alene, the biggest annual fundraiser for Panhandle Kiwanis Club, features 16 food and drink vendors and lots more. Proceeds benefit local Panhandle Kiwanis charitable causes.
Taste of Coeur d'Alene food choices range from the more adventurous flavors of Jerusalem Middle Eastern Cuisine and Gem State Bison to familiar tastes like Coeur d’Alene’s Squatch Dogs and Baja Babes Shrimp Tacos.
A beer garden offers regional microbrews from No-LI Brewhouse of Spokane, Big Sky Brewing from Montana and Laughing Dog Brewing out of Ponderay, among several others.
Love live music? You'll find it at the City Park bandstand featuring performers from as far away as New Zealand and as close as Coeur d'Alene.
The music starts at 11 a.m. each day and runs until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The RUB from Coeur d’Alene kicks off the lineup today, followed by Smash Hit Carnival and Evan Denlinger, both of Spokane, FIASCO from Seattle and a local dance troupe from Alta Dance Academy.
Coeur d’Alene Youth Marimba opens Saturday followed by local band Ren E & the Rhythm Section, Raggs and Bush Doktor from Seattle and DJ Donuts from Spokane. Coeur d’Alene’s own Superchrome will play into the night with a two-hour set from 6-8.
Sunday’s show opens with Logee from New Zealand followed by the North Idaho Circle of Songs, Karrie O’Neill from Spokane/Hawaii and local group Jam Shack will close the weekend concerts with a two-and-a-half hour set beginning at 3:30.
Over 60 vendor booths will be at the event, each with exclusively hand-made craft items, from hand-carved obsidian knives to wooden American flags.
Of course, you can always bring home art with your face on it.
With a quick-draw hand, Caricatures by Corey draws over 30 faces an hour. He is known as “the fastest live caricature artist in Michigan and beyond” and he’ll be right here in our own backyard.
Wander down Sherman Avenue to find over 250 vendors at the Downtown Street Fair featuring arts, crafts, music and food.
Street Fair hours are today and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
A free shuttle bus runs throughout the weekend between the Downtown Street Fair and Art on the Green, which is in its 53rd year.
Today at 11 a.m., the Coeur d’Alene Tribe will start the Art on the Green festivities with a blessing and traditional dance.
The juried art show features fine arts by about 30 artists, most from throughout the Pacific Northwest. Many will host booths as well, offering artwork for sale.
Art on the Green hours are: Today from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Volunteers are still needed for Art on the Green. If interested, call 208-667-9346 or email info@artonthegreen.org.
Entry to all three events is free.
Info: cdadowntown.com, panhandlekiwanis.org, artonthegreencda.com
