Random Corner

• The Festival at Sandpoint began as a three-day celebration of symphonic music taking place from Aug. 1-3, 1983. The inaugural year began with a family night and climaxed with a performance by the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

• Early organizers spoke of the importance of introducing cultural concerts to Sandpoint, both to help expand the tourist base and noting a “slack timber industry,” as well as “entertainment limited to athletics.”

• The Festival introduced acts from other musical genres in 1989, including The Ray Brown Trio, Joe Scruggs, Carl Perkins and B.J. Thomas. However, the Festival continued with the symphonic format a few more years until 1992, when it began to resemble the Festival we know today. In 1992, notable acts included Emmylou Harris and Tony Bennett.

• A lot of big names have played under the big white tent over the years: B.B. King, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, The Temptations,

Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, The Beach Boys, The Doobie Brothers, John Prine, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Robert Earl Keen, Ziggy Marley, Blues Traveler, Michael Franti, Counting Crows, Steve Miller Band, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The B-52’s, ZZ Top, Sublime with Rome and many more.

• According to its 2022 annual report, the Festival at Sandpoint has a direct economic impact of $3.8 million on Bonner County and generates more than $233,000 in Sandpoint, Bonner County and state of Idaho taxes. The Festival also creates about 37 full-time equivalent jobs throughout Sandpoint.

• With the introduction of artificial turf at War Memorial Field, the Festival now spends approximately $150,000 of its annual budget protecting the turf from damage, ushering in a long-term discussion for potentially moving the venue to a location with less overhead expenses in the future.