SANDPOINT — Saturday’s Fall Folk Festival celebrated both the Kaniksu Folk School and the Kaniksu Land Trust’s soon-to-be home at the Aster Garden Center.

From traditional craft demonstrations to live music and food, the event invited the public to experience the folk school’s mission and preview its fall class lineup.

The Kaniksu Folk School is an educational initiative of the Kaniksu Land Trust that offers year-round classes in everything from arts and crafts to essential life skills.

“From the age-old craft of blacksmithing to the precision of woodworking, and from identifying edible plants in our lush surroundings to exploring countless other subjects, KFS weaves together diverse learning opportunities, highly skilled instructors, and a circle of learners that strengthens the character of our community,” Kaniksu Land Trust officials said in a previous statement.

The festival celebrated community and traditional skills — and offered a sneak peek at the land trust’s plans for the Aster Garden Center. The mission-driven garden shop is set to open in spring 2026 after existing buildings are transformed into the organization’s headquarters following a modest remodel.

Among those showcasing their skills at Saturday’s festival was blacksmith Nick Belfrey, who was first introduced to the craft by his father. He grew to love making something completely from scratch — unique and personal — but without a forge, he had to set it aside for a time.

After growing up and once again having the time, Belfrey reconnected with blacksmithing. His father, looking to declutter, asked if he wanted the forge. It was, Belfrey said, an immediate yes.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Tolkien and fantasy, so there was an immediate draw as a 13-year-old,” Belfrey said. “I get to do what they did in the movie.”

He said he loves that he can make an item that is unique and carries a bit of himself.

“You can go out and buy a pocketknife or a nice knife anywhere and it’ll function just fine,” Belfrey said. “But when I make it, or I see something else by a blacksmith, there’s a lot of appreciation for all of the hard work and thought that went into it. … I feel like it adds some magic.”

One of a handful of artisans at the Fall Folk Festival, Belfrey teaches regular classes through the land trust’s folk school. There is both art and skill in learning how to swing the hammer without wearing yourself out — and in swinging it properly. He tells students that if they make a strike they didn’t intend, they can turn the metal over and straighten it out.

However, he also reminds them that their item is unique, and part of its beauty lies in that uniqueness. Belfrey helps students think about the items they want to make and the steps they’ll need to take to get there.

“I think most people think of metal as being something that can’t move,” he said. “But when you’re doing this, it’s like plastic. You can push it around and make it what you want.”

He said he loves going to his forge to work out frustrations when days aren’t going well — and also loves knowing it can make a good day even better.

“You can come and make it a little bit better because you know you’re expressing creativity, so that’s really great,” he said.

Belfrey said he loves seeing a project he envisioned come to life, transforming from an unshaped piece of metal into a finished product.

“I think my favorite thing is when the project — whatever it is I’m working on — is getting close to being done and I can see it as the thing I imagined at the beginning,” he said. “And know that, unless somebody throws it in the ocean, it’s going to be around, it’s going to be this way for a long time.”

His favorite project, Belfrey said, is the one he’s currently working on — a pair of scissors inspired by a monthly challenge issued on a podcast he enjoys.

“They’re not quite done yet, but I hope they’ll be good enough that my wife can cut my hair with them, because our current hair-cutting scissors are getting a little old,” he said.

Belfrey encouraged anyone interested in trying a class at the folk school — such as blacksmithing — to give it a try.

“Just come give it a try,” he said. “I believe anybody can do it as long as they’re being safe about it, and it’s really gratifying. Even if I just need to smash a piece of something round into something square, it’s like, ‘Hey, I did that.’”

“I had an 11-year-old kid tell me that this was the coolest thing he’d ever done.”

Also featured at the festival was Rachel Nabor, who demonstrated how to weave baskets from willow twigs. She learned the craft from a weaver near Nelson, British Columbia, several years ago and was instantly hooked.

“Once I took her class, I kind of got the weaving bug and didn’t look back,” she said.

Her favorite medium is willow — not only because it’s plentiful, sending up new shoots each year, but because the resulting baskets are both beautiful and functional.

“You can weave baskets out of almost everything,” Nabor said. “It’s one of the most ancient things that people have done. I just imagine that thousands of years ago, somebody wanted to pick berries or something, and whatever material was available to them was pliable, and they were able to make a container or basket of sorts to carry the things they needed.”

While relatively new to what is both a craft and an art form, Nabor said she was invited to showcase basket weaving at the festival by friends who were also participating. The activity is both fun and meditative — and results in something that is both beautiful and functional.

“Whenever I look at a basket I made, I remember all the hours I spent making it,” Nabor said. “I think, ‘Oh yeah, that was October of that year, and I was doing that, and I was hanging out with this person.’ So I just have all those memories associated with it.”

When asked to demonstrate basket weaving, Nabor said she was excited to showcase something she loves — and hoped to inspire others to give it a try.

“It’s really addicting,” she said with a smile. “Honestly, once you start doing it, you’re thinking, ‘I can make all these things. I need baskets for fruit. I need baskets for my clothes or whatever.’ You can gift them to people. It’s really endless.”

As Nabor’s hands carefully pulled the willow strands into position, her actions attracted the attention of both young and old, captivated by the basket slowly taking shape.

“I love seeing my friends here, and I hope that people like basket weaving,” she said. “I remember when I wove my very first basket. It was a magical experience for me, and I just hope that people see that they can also create things.”

Nabor encouraged community members to jump in and try basket weaving or other classes offered by the folk school or local craftspeople.

“If you want to weave, I would say grab something and start doing over-under and see what happens,” she said. “Just jump in and have fun.”