Skies Should Clear For Post Falls Festival Inaugural Event Combines Traditions At Roots Of Area
Organizers of the first-ever Festival of the Falls anxiously were watching weather forecasts as rain clouds rolled over Falls Park on Thursday.
“I’m praying hard that the sunshine comes out,” said Nancy DiGiammarco, director of Post Falls Tourism.
Preparations for the festival, which starts today, continued despite the damp weather. The Parks Department strung lights from tree to tree; Calvin Nomee of the Flathead Tribe delivered poles for Saturday’s tepee raising; and actors rehearsed in Seltice Elementary School for the world premiere of “The Story of Q’Emiln.”
The forecast looks promising, but bring sweaters along to the play tonight. The National Weather Service is calling for fair skies but cool temperatures. On Saturday, the outdoor music and arts and crafts fair should be blessed with 75- to 85-degree weather.
Sunshine or not, the festival promises to be a curious composite of European and Native American traditions, honoring the roots of Post Falls.
An oompah band and beer garden, Indian lore and bluegrass music will all share in the celebration set in Post Falls’ new community park along the gorge of the Spokane River.
Anyone unfamiliar with the history of Post Falls can get an entertaining lesson through the musical production “The Story of Q’Emiln” at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday in the park.
The Idaho Commission on the Arts donated $3,400 for the play to be written.
The play-in-the-round is the only festival event that requires an entrance fee: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children under 12. The play will move to Seltice Elementary School in case of rain.
The festival starts today at 4 p.m., with food booths, arts and crafts, the oompah band in the beer garden and a rock-climbing exhibition by the Spokane Mountaineers.
On Saturday, the festival will open with a tepee-raising ceremony at 9:30 a.m. The musical lineup begins with the bluegrass band Full Moon, followed by Accoustic Alliance, Riders of the Rockin B Ranch and The Occasional String Band.
At 1:30 p.m., an owner-pet look-alike contest and Der Weiner dog personality contest will be held.
The Festival of the Falls will be an annual event, organizers say.
“This is an event that we project will grow out of Falls Park up Fourth Avenue and down Spokane Street,” DiGiammarco said. “Hopefully, families will make this a tradition to come to the festival every year.”
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