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Idaho prepares for eventful weekend

Eric Wagoner, 11, tries out a rail in the new skate park in Rathdrum on Thursday while his father, Mike Wagoner, and brother Joey, 13, look on. The new Rathdrum skate park will be dedicated Saturday as part of Rathdrum Days, the town's annual festival. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Sam Taylor Staff writer
Eric Wagoner, 11, tries out a rail in the new skate park in Rathdrum on Thursday while his father, Mike Wagoner, and brother Joey, 13, look on. The new Rathdrum skate park will be dedicated Saturday as part of Rathdrum Days, the town's annual festival. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

There are oodles of fun events planned in North Idaho this weekend, even without the summer rodeo in St. Maries, which has been canceled.

The ninth annual St. Maries Rodeo was canceled after supporters found out the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association – the major rodeo promoter in America – was sending far fewer ropers and riders than in previous years, said Mark Harpole, rodeo chairman.

The rodeo learned this week it would have 46 contestants for the Friday and Saturday event. That’s less than half the usual number, Harpole said.

With the low number this year, the two-hour event would have been cut to about 45 minutes. He said he thinks the PRCA offered so few contestants because of fuel costs for travel.

“We had eight very successful years of rodeo,” Harpole said. “We’re not sure what we’re going to do next year.”

But there are other activities this weekend:

• St. Maries residents will have the 17th Annual smA.R.T. by the River Art Festival, featuring arts and crafts vendors, as well as the 18th year of the St. Joe Valley Show and Shine car show.

New this year is an appearance by Jane Cantwell, a raptor specialist who works with birds of prey, especially ospreys, in the area. Cantwell will have a free adult-assisted, hands-on workshop for children ages 4-12.

There will also be a wine and beer garden at this year’s festival.

• The St. Joe Valley Show and Shine takes place on Main Avenue in St. Maries for the second time. In previous years, the car show was in the city park.

• To the north, Rathdrum Days begins at noon today with vendors set up on the Lakeland High School lawn. The grand opening is today for the city’s new skateboard park. The facility will be open all day as well as on Saturday. The Main Street parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

New this year to Rathdrum Days is live music by various artists, a kiddie parade from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today and a 6 p.m. softball tournament at Stub Myer Park on Montana Street today through Saturday.

Rathdrum Days publicity director Kristy Norman said some perennial favorites will be back, including the three-on-three basketball tournament and the wiener dog races.