SANDPOINT — With population booms and ongoing development, there is much made of the changes Bonner County has undergone in recent years, however one thing that has never changed its holiday spirit.

From the far reaches of Clark Fork to Priest River, the county has gathered for its fair share of holiday traditions over the decades. With or without snow on the ground, residents have always found a way to celebrate the community during this special time of year. 

One tradition that has remained over the course of 75 years is Sandpoint’s community Christmas tree, at that time that Mountain States Power company crew supplied the tree. In 1950, when Bonner County was only 14,800 people in total, the company brought in a then-record setting 45-foot-tall fir tree for residents to enjoy on the corner of Second Avenue and Cedar Street. 

According to the Sandpoint News-Bulletin, the crew was set to decorate the tree with all blue electric lights, and the fire department was set to hang “the big evergreen bell” at First and Main as the city took on its holiday fineries.   

Across the county, Priest River City Hall was the place to be for one reason only: Santa Claus. In a horse drawn sleigh, Father Christmas was set to arrive for his first visit of the season bearing candy for all the kiddies in attendance.  

If you couldn’t make it to City Hall, you only had to wait 20 years for the ability to contact Santa by telephone. Maybe you forgot to send your letters off or just thought of another gift, but 54 years ago the Sandpoint High School Chapter of the Future Farmers of America debuted its Santa Hotline. 

Residents could dial 263-3000 to get their lists into the hands of the “jolly old gent” as he was described in the 1971 Sandpoint News-Bulletin.  

“This is the first time for something like this in the Sandpoint area,” Jed Turnbull, president of the FFA, said in the News-Bulletin. “We hope we can make it an annual event.” 

However, the number was short lived and needed to be changed as the Bulletin later reported a local man with a similar number began receiving upwards of 40 calls a day asking to speak to Santa. 

Just two weeks after the hotline made its debut, the Elks Lodge and Panida Theater announced its annual free Christmas show for children. The two long-standing community organizations showed off the 1969 drama film “80 Steps to Jonah” starring Wayne Newton and Kennan Wynn. 

The article promoting the event also promised “several Walt Disney cartoons” for all attendees to enjoy. Even back then it seems that Disney was a staple of the holiday season. 

It wouldn’t be a Bonner County holiday without generous donations; with none more synonymous with the season than Toys for Tots. The program, which has stuck around till this day, was going strong over 50 years ago. 

Dave Merrill of the Boy Scouts reported to the Priest River Times that the organization had not only gathered $100 worth of toys in the last week, but an additional $70 of donations. A bit of a far cry from the $75,000 the Sandpoint Lions Club is seeking to raise in its 2025 campaign.  

More information on Bonner County history can be found at the Bonner County Historical Society museum, who helped assemble these events.