It’s all about having a great time with good food, cheerful drinks, super entertainment and the most amazing art sale of the year. And, it’s all about benefitting Pend Oreille Arts Council’s education programs.

POAC members and volunteers will all have some fun and raise some funds. The community is invited to join them.

Saturday, June 3 at 5 p.m. the doors to Columbia Bank’s atrium will open to an event that will be the talk of the town on Sunday, so you’ll really want to be there.

The event will showcase POAC’s Ovations program that exposes local students to world-class performing arts and Kaleidoscope which, in partnership with Community Assistance League, brings hands-on art education into local elementary schools.

Kaleidoscope and Ovations programs are dependent on local funding. Grants cover less than half of POAC’s annual budget.

POAC wouldn’t be able to bring these programs to the community — or ArtWalk and Arts & Crafts Fair in the summer or “The Nutcracker” in the winter and all of the events in between — without the generosity of our community and the dedicated help of its volunteers.

To thank a handful of these volunteer POAC will honor six recipients of appreciation awards at the Art Party including one for art teacher of the year, patron of the year, business of the year, performer of the year, volunteer of the year and artist of the year.

A delightful original art piece by this year’s recipient will be auctioned to the highest bidder. And, the performer of the year will be part of the entertainment.

Plus, the POAC team will be revealing the 2017-18 Performing Arts Season for the first time. All this and a gourmet dinner catered by Tango Cafe, adult drinks provided by Trinity at City Beach and 219 Lounge, silent art auction and mystery original art grab bag. You can’t say no.

Reservations are required and can be made at artinsandpoint.org, by calling the Pend Oreille Arts Council office at 263-6139, stopping in at 302 N. First Ave. or mailing a check to POAC, P.O. Box 1694, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

The cost is $75 per person.