Call it a small town community thing, an insatiable desire to be outside, or a love of food, carnival rides, and everything else that one can find at a local festival - Idahoans will celebrate just about anything with a festival! But while our major county fairs and biggest music festivals often get all the attention, nearly every community across the state is host to its own bevy of local festivals, which celebrate anything from dogs, trees, and state foods to the Renaissance. Here are a few you might not have heard of yet, but should definitely check out!
1. Lumberjack Days, Orofino (September)
North and North Central Idaho has long been known as timber territory, but Orofino takes the cake when it comes to epic festivals that pay tribute to the logging industry. Every burly, saw-wielding competition you can think up happens here - from creative log-sawing obstacle courses that require feats of athleticism to intense log disc cutting competitions, to the child-friendly log rolling races - this is quite the festival. Add in a parade, Lumberjack Royalty, and a carnival and you have a truly fantastic fall event.
2. Idaho Lavender Festival, Kuna (Varies)
Idaho actually has quite a few lavender festivals scattered throughout the year. The Lavender Merchant in Kuna hosts one particular event that brings the whole community together. Enjoy diverse booths - foods! Trinkets! Demonstrations! - and the opportunity to purchase "u-pick" lavender, dried stalks, soaps, lotions, aromatics, and more.
3. Arborfest and Mud Run, Hailey (May)
Hailey celebrates Arbor Day every May with ArborFest, honoring "Community, Art, Earth & Trees". Activities include free tree seedlings, a visit from Smokey Bear, a bouncy forest, local art displays, musical performances and the wild and crazy ArborFest MudRun!
4. Wood Boat Festival, Sandpoint (July)
This classic car show-meets-the-water is a celebration of traditional wood boats of every style and size, as well as a community festival that rallies this lakefront city around the water. A "boat parade," activities and vendor booths, and even the semi-attached Great Sandpoint Flat Water Regatta race is all intertwined into one charming festival.
5. Yellow Pine Music and Harmonica Festival, Yellow Pine (August)
Only in Idaho. Feet tappin', hands clappin' good times in this itty bitty community just outside of McCall - food, drinks, and plenty of bluesey tunes included.
6. Wagon Days, Ketchum (September)
Since Wagon Days began in 1958 to commemorate the founding of Ketchum and its historic wagon trains as they helped haul ore to and from the rails, it has become a weekend full of memorable activities - fitting for the town known for the Pioneer Saloon and Trailing of the Sheep Festival. The Big Hitch Parade is the centerpiece of the event. It is one of the largest non-motorized parades in the Pacific Northwest and features museum-quality wagons, buggies and stagecoaches with a grand finale of mules that you won't believe till you see it. Festival goers will also find plenty of food and games, art exhibitions, and good times.
7. Sandpoint Film Festivel, Sandpoint (November)
This artistic community doesn't stop the celebration with mere boats-- Sandpoint takes it back to the mainland with a film festival that has gained nationwide fame for its screenings of locally-produced cinematic treasures. Plus, food, the great outdoors, live music, and plenty of games!
8. Custer Days, Challis (July)
The Land of the Yankee Fork State Park is known as a historic treasure. Ghost town remnants, aging homesteads, vintage mining equipment, old mines - there's already plenty to explore here! But every summer, Challis kicks it up a notch with its annual Custer Days, featuring reenactments of daily boom town life, walking tours of the old townsites within the park, and plenty of photo ops.
9. Sacajaweea Heritage Days, Salmon (September)
You'll walk away from Salmon's annual historic festival with a whole lot of new skills, knowledge, and a stomach full of good eats! As the birthplace of Sacajawaea and a stopping point on the Lewis and Clark Trail, Salmon is a small town that simply oozes with history. At this annual event, visitors will be immersed in Idaho's long-gone days of mountain men, trapping, Native American cooking techniques, teeepee building, and - of course - reenactments. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribe themselves - Sacajawea's tribe - even make an appearance for this incredible event, all set in the gorgeous, mountainous Salmon Valley!
10. Dogwood Festival, Lewiston (Late April)
As the Dogwood trees blossom into their spring colors, Lewiston springs into a community festival that offers something for everyone. Music, dancing, art competitions, and vendors galore celebrate the magic of the new season. Even a dog show and basketball dunking showdown!
11. BBQ Days, Kamiah (September)
Is there anything better than free BBQ, community spirit, and small town festivities? Not much! The Kamiah Chamber of Commerce's annual event goes hand in hand with the multitude of other events that Kamiah hosts regularly, like the annual Spaghetti Feed. Here, you'll find classic events: art exhibits, multiple parades, partnerships with the Clearwater Roundup for bull-riding action, a community breakfast, and even an arts and crafts show!
12. Malad Welsh Festival (Late June- Early July)
In celebration of the traditional Welsh Eisteddfod cultural event, Malad City - which has the highest Welsh population in Idaho - enjoys a weekend of classic Welsh games, history, tours, and delicious food. Most of the celebrations take place at the LDS church and city park. And you know there will plenty of too-cute Welsh Corgis running around!
13. Hemingway Days, Sun Valley
Hosted by the community library, sun Valley's festival in tribute to the literary great and his time in Idaho. In addition to lectures and the opportunity to stroll by Hemingway's burial site and writing cabin, the festival’s program also includes cultural events that allow attendees to get a feel for the rich history, literary heritage, and natural vibrancy of Ketchum and Sun Valley, including an insiders’ tour of the Sun Valley Museum of History and a guided tour of Silver Creek Preserve.
14. Accordion Festival, Wallace (August)
This delightfully quirky small town has so many festivals to choose from, it's impossible to pick a favorite! From the famous Gyro Days, Blues Festival, and Depot Day, to this year's celebration of Colonel Wallace's Return, a visit to the Panhandle to stop by this community will never be dull! The annual Accordion Festival is quaint and so very "Idaho," however, that you might just fall in love with everything this town has to offer.... spaceships included.
15. National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest, Weiser (Late June)
Bluegrass, swing, country - and even some hip hop thrown in for good measure, Weiser's annual Fiddle Festival is one of the most beloved events in the state for good reason. It's small town goodness gone national! Good music, a vendor festival in the park, carnival rides, and daily music performances outside of the fiddling contest itself make this a must-do festival for any Idahoan. Food and festivities can be found around every corner in this small town, but don't forget to catch the parade and BBQ afterwards!
Better start planning now! Does your hometown have an awesome festival worth adding? Share in the comments!
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