sandpoint's events calendar

February 2023

17-26 Winter Carnival. Parade of Lights downtown, events at Schweitzer, live music and parties all around, capped by the heart-warming K9 Keg Pull. SandpointWinterCarnival.com

19 Presidents' Weekend at Schweitzer. Ski mountain celebrates the holiday with the "Let it Glow!" kids parade and fireworks show. Schweitzer.com

March 2023

3-4 The Follies. A sell-out annually at the Panida Theater, this racy and irreverent variety show presents the most hilarious performing talent Sandpoint has to offer. AngelsOverSandpoint.org

4 Mega Alpine and Snowboard Demo Day. The Panhandle Alliance For Education hosts the region's largest demo day at Schweitzer, with new gear from more than a dozen manufacturers. Schweitzer.com

April 2023

29-May 7 K&K Spring Fishing Derby. Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club holds the 75th annual spring fishing derby on Lake Pend Oreille. LPOIC.org

May 2023

6 Farmers Market Opening. The season kicks off with fresh produce and artisan goods every Saturday and Wednesday in downtown Sandpoint's Farmin Park. SandpointFarmersMarket.com

6 3/4 Minus Cykeltur. Timed gravel grinder with 52-mile route on mixed-surface roads, and a 76-miler that adds a twist of single track trail. SyringaCyclery.com

6-7 Silverwood Opening. Silverwood Theme Park opens for the season. SilverwoodThemePark.com

19-20 Lost in the 50's. Annual car show brings hundreds of classic cars and thousands of admirers to downtown Sandpoint. Sandpoint.org/lostin50s

June 2023

*Schweitzer Summer Opening. Schweitzer's summer season kicks off with music, food and drink, village activities and chairlift rides. Schweitzer.com

16 ArtWalk Opening. Pend Oreille Arts Council pres- ents receptions for local artists at retail locations in downtown Sandpoint. ArtinSandpoint.org

17 CHAFE 150. Sandpoint Rotary hosts its annual 150mile CHAFE bike ride through Montana and Idaho, along with 25-, 40- and 80-mile options plus a Family Fun Ride. New this year is a gravel route. CHAFE150.org

24-25 Race the Wolf. Ultra-marathon and trail race at Schweitzer, with courses for all abilities. RaceTheWolf.com

29 Summer Sampler. Serving up tasty samples from some of Sandpoint's best restaurants in beautiful Farmin Park, with live music, prizes and fun; check website for date. SandpointChamber.org

July 2023

4 Fourth of July Celebration. Sandpoint Lions hosts parades downtown and fireworks at dusk. 208-263-4118

*Pairings in the Pines. Kaniksu Land Trust hosts a fundraiser and epic afternoon tasting wines and fine food along the trails at Pine Street Woods. Kaniksu.org

8 Beerfest. Sample local and regional brews and enjoy a festive beach party at City Beach, hosted by the Sandpoint Chamber. SandpointChamber.com

*Northwest Wine Fest. Schweitzer hosts its two-day summer wine tasting event. Schweitzer.com

27-August 6 Festival at Sandpoint. Premier summer concert series brings world-renowned musical acts for eight – or more! – mainstage performances along Lake Pend Oreille at Memorial Field. FestivalAtSandpoint.com

August 2023

4-5 Bonner County Rodeo. PRCA-sanctioned rodeo brings professional and local riders to the Bonner County Fairgrounds. SandpointBonnerCountyRodeo.com

5 Long Bridge Swim. The 1.76-mile Long Bridge Swim is one of the biggest open-water swims in the Northwest, with swimmers ranging from kids as young as 7 to oldsters in their 80s. LongBridgeSwim.org

12-13 Annual Arts and Crafts Fair. Pend Oreille Arts Council's 51st annual fair takes place downtown, with scores of artist booths. ArtinSandpoint.org

16-19 Bonner County Fair. Old-fashioned country fair at Bonner County Fairgrounds. BonnerCountyFair.com

*Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-in. Regional pilots fly classic and experimental craft into Sandpoint Airport, with aircraft display and a hearty breakfast.

September 2023

2-4 Fall Fest. Schweitzer's ode to autumn, with beer tasting, music and chairlift rides, climbing wall, zip lines and more. Schweitzer.com

*Artists' Studio Tour. Driving tour of working artists' studios throughout North Idaho. ArtTourDrive.org

16 Monarch Grind. A gravel grinder for cyclists, with start and finish near Clark Fork. SyringaCyclery.com

11-16 WaCanId Ride. Annual six-day, 370-mile bicycle tour on paved roads through Washington, Canada and Idaho – hence, the WaCanId. WaCanId.org

October 2023

Sept. 28-Oct. 28 Scarywood. It's a month of screams leading up to Halloween, as Silverwood transforms with haunted attractions along with its signature rides in the dark. ScarywoodHaunt.com

*Crosstoberfest. Cyclocross race and beer fest sponsored by Syringa Cyclery, Hickey Farms, and Pend Oreille Pedalers. Rides for all ages. PendOreillePedalers.org

*Harvest Fest. Sandpoint Farmers Market closes the season with entertainment, food booths, activities, displays at Farmin Park. SandpointFarmersMarket.com

November 2023

18-26 K&K Thanksgiving Fishing Derby. Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club's annual fall fishing contest. LPOIC.org. 24 Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival. Tree lighting ceremony at Jeff Jones Town Square with a visit from Santa to open the holiday season. DowntownSandpoint.com

DECember 2023

23-24 Ski with Santa. Santa will be sliding the slopes at Schweitzer, with candy and cheer for good boys and girls of all ages. Schweitzer.com

31 New Years Eve. Party down low or up high, with multiple venues downtown and up at Schweitzer offering live music, food, a midnight toast and assorted fun. VisitSandpoint.com

Our mountains have your number. If you're a hiker or mountain biker, come discover the 200-plus trails in the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains that surround Sandpoint.

Mountain Biking Trails

MTB Schweitzer Mountain. Schweitzer and the adjacent Selkirk Recreation District have a terrific – and growing – 30-trail system for mountain bikers. Many afford outstanding lake views to complement the heart-pumping climbs and descents.

MTB Syringa + Pine Street Woods. The Kaniksu Land Trust provides the new Pine Street Woods trail system, and helps maintain oversight for the adjacent Syringa trails, with more than 20 rides ranging from easy to expert... barely two miles from downtown Sandpoint.

MTB Forest Service. There are many excellent single track rides developed on Forest Service trails and maintained with the help of volunteer rider groups. Notable rides are Brush Lake, with a fine moderately easy six-mile loop; Gold Hill, 2.9 miles uphill to a nice viewpoint, and potential connection to additional trails; and Lost LakeMineral Point trails with various loops comprising 10 miles or more in scalable difficulty.

Link up to maps, groups and more on our MTB Page: www.VisitSandpoint.com/mtb

HIKING Trails

There are scores of trails where the best – or only –mode is by foot. Hike to one of dozens of high alpine lakes, explore wildlife-rich estuaries and refuges, scale a mountaintop to get forever views or take a multi-day backpack into pristine roadless areas. Link up to trails at VisitSandpoint.com/hike

RESORTS, CONDOS AND VACATION RENTALS