Schweitzer's Fall Fest marks 25 years of fun
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 9 years AGO
(Courtesy photo) Over the years, festivals celebrating the ever-growing craft beer industry have sprouted up around the Pacific Northwest but none have aged as well as Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s Fall Fest. Coming into its 25th year, the resort is excited to offer new and exciting additions to this Labor Day staple.
SANDPOINT — Over the years, festivals celebrating the ever-growing craft beer industry have sprouted up around the Pacific Northwest but none have aged as well as Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s Fall Fest. Coming into its 25th year, the resort is excited to offer new and exciting additions to this Labor Day staple.
“Fall Fest has had 24 years of great beers and incredible music in our village location,” said Schweitzer’s Events Manager, Brandon Peterson. “This year, to really emphasize the milestone anniversary, Schweitzer decided to take things up a notch and do what any solid 25 year old does — move out. Out of the village, that is.”
The resort noticed that with an ever growing fan base for Fall Fest, hitting 25 is a good time to expand and improve on the tried & true formula that makes Fall Fest a must do. “With 100 beers & ciders on tap under the tents, we decided to move over to the tennis court area, freeing up the village green to become the spot for non-beer related activities,” explains Peterson. “The climbing wall, monkey jumper, soda tasting and other kid friendly attractions will all be in one place on the green.”
Schweitzer will also debut a new stage location below the Musical Chairs lift, near the top of Happy Trails. “The natural slope creates an amphitheater that’s perfect for showcasing the live performers at Schweitzer over the weekend,” notes Peterson. “It’s free to enjoy the music and with great bands like The Incredible Flying Dookie Brothers, Andrea Harsell & Luna Roja, Dimestore Phophets, Rust on the Rails, Honeysuckle with Holly McGarry, The Hawthorne Roots, Danny Dodge and the Dodge Gang, Voltalux, and Petty Fever – there’s no better place to spend Labor Day weekend than at Schweitzer, taking in the views of Lake Pend Oreille.”
Fall Fest kicks off on Friday, Sept. 1, with a new evening program that will include beer tasting, a VIP beer dinner and live music from 4-8 p.m. with headliner New Kingston, a chart-topping reggae band from Brooklyn, N.Y. Fall Fest continues on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Monday, Sept. 4, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The ever-popular souvenir mugs and glasses are available for pre-purchase online and onsite during the weekend as supplies last.
“If you haven’t had a chance to join us for Fall Fest in the past, this is the year to be here,” said Peterson.
Labor Day weekend is the last full weekend of summer operations on the mountain with the chairlift and other activities closed after September 4, 2017. For more information about Fall Fest, the full music line up and all the activities at Schweitzer, visit www.schweitzer.com.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort is quickly rising in the ranks of the nation’s top destination resorts with 2900 acres of amazing terrain and renowned tree skiing. Located in the rugged Selkirk Mountains of the northern Idaho panhandle and the northwest Rocky Mountains, Schweitzer overlooks the town of Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille. Schweitzer is well known for its two massive bowls, breathtaking views and amazing gladed terrain. For more information on Schweitzer Mountain Resort call 877.487.4643 or visit www.schweitzer.com.