Festival Fervor Majority Of Cityline Callers Against Moving Music Festival From Sandpoint

The thought of moving the Festival at Sandpoint away from Memorial Field received a big thumbs down from fans in the Northwest who called in their views.

“It would be a shame to move it. My family attends several of the events, and we stay in Sandpoint and eat at the restaurants,” said Spokane resident Cliff Walter. “We love the community atmosphere and the festival where it is. If it moves to another location, it’s doubtful we would attend.”

Walter’s comments were typical of the 50 calls to The SpokesmanReview’s Cityline this week. An overwhelming majority of callers from Colbert, Wash., to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, said the festival should remain at Memorial Field.

Only a handful of callers said the three weeks of concerts should be held elsewhere. Some suggested hosting the event at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Two others opted for a move to Deer Park, Wash., or Coeur d’Alene, saying the festival has outgrown Memorial Field.

But most Spokane callers made it clear they abhor the idea of a change of venue for the 14-year-old festival.

“As far as I’m concerned the festival is Sandpoint,” said an anonymous Spokane woman. “I would more than miss it. Have you ever heard the 1812 Overture on a warm summer evening and had a full moon rise over the water? It’s unbelievably beautiful there.”

“Please don’t take the festival out of Sandpoint,” pleaded Spokane’s Mary Jo Satler. “I don’t want to see it go to Schweitzer. The festival is a real treasure and you should keep it as it is.”

Organizers struck a sour note with some Memorial Field neighbors and athletic boosters this year.

Neighbors tired of the noise and traffic even hired an attorney. They say the concerts at the field violate the city’s residential zoning code.

Festival/”The field was put there for kids’ use and we need to get the festival out of that neighborhood,” said a Sandpoint woman who did not leave her name.Mary Sever of Sagle wants the concerts moved to Schweitzer where there are more “majestic” views of the mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. “To have it at Memorial Field next to the waste treatment plant is ludicrous. It stinks down there,” she said.Even though some neighbors are disenchanted, others who live nearby called in their support.”I live within one block of the field and I love it,” said Viola Muckler. “There is room for both sports and music and both should be at Memorial Field.” Another nearby resident, who said she was a California transplant, said the complainers are a minority.”I think this town should be overwhelmed to have such a wonderful ensemble in its backyard,” she said. “Californians would give their two front teeth to have a home near a festival like this and hear gorgeous music through the summer months.”The festival has a one-year lease on Memorial Field and will have concerts there this summer. But organizers are now looking for other permanent sites in case the field is taken away next year.”The festival has been a big boon to the Sandpoint economy and for folks like me it’s a cherished place to go listen to good music,” said Coeur d’Alene’s Jerry Stone. “Keep the festival at Sandpoint.”

xxxx