You Won’t Have To Work Hard To Find Labor Day Weekend Fun

Labor Day weekend in the Inland Northwest promises pig-outs, parades and plenty of sunshine.

Spokane temperatures are expected to be in the 80s all three days with no rain in sight, said Irv Haynes of the National Weather Service.

North Idaho skies will be partly cloudy throughout the weekend and temperatures in Coeur d’Alene will be slightly cooler, with highs in the upper 70s.

Such a holiday forecast had residents gearing up Thursday for a weekend outdoors.

Jack Ferrulo and his 4-year-old son, Jacob, stocked up on maps and bought hiking boots at REI on North Monroe. They were planning an overnight camping trip at Mount Spokane, where park manager Peter Wood said tent and RV sites are still available.

Spokane’s Riverside State Park and Idaho’s Farragut State Park still have campsites left for the weekend, but workers said they expect to fill up by Saturday.

“We’re going to roast marshmallows,” Jacob Ferrulo announced.

“We’re going to hike,” said his dad, examining the fit on a new pair of Timberlands.”He thinks he’s going to teach me how,” she said with a laugh. “I sort of want to stay home.”“You’re going to love it,” promised Robert Pollar.

For residents who can’t get away for the weekend, a variety of annual Labor Day events will keep them busy right in town.

The usual large crowds are expected at Spokane’s PigOut in the Park, a restaurant fair that began Thursday and runs through Monday in Riverfront Park.

The Fall Festival at Schweitzer Mountain Resort will offer microbrew beer tasting, an arts and crafts fair and a non-competitive, family mountain bike ride.

Discounted $3 chairlift rides up the mountain will be offered each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Spirit Lake, Idaho, the annual Old Timers Labor Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. and wrap up at, well, 11:10 a.m.

Veterans will mark the end of the war with Japan during a VJ Day celebration in Coeur d’Alene. The group will meet at Veterans Memorial Park at 11 a.m. Saturday.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition.

This sidebar appeared with the story: HOLIDAY SCHEDULES The Labor Day holiday will affect some public services: Buses: Spokane Transit Authority buses will run Monday on a holiday schedule, from 8:45 a.m. to 7:22 p.m., when the last bus leaves downtown. The No. 30 West Main route will be limited to a 9:47 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. schedule. Paratransit vans will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Meters: Parking is free Monday at all Spokane meters. Closures: All government offices, banks, libraries and liquor stores will be closed Monday. Driver’s licensing offices also will be closed. Mail: Post offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivered Monday. Box service - but not window service - will be provided at the downtown and Liberty Park post offices. Garbage: Collection throughout the metropolitan area will be one day late next week. Transfer stations will be closed Monday. Parks: All county parks will be open Monday. Liberty Lake and Bear Lake parks will be open from 10 a.m. to dusk. The fee is $1.50 for everyone 6 and older. City pools: Comstock, Hillyard and Witter pools will be open for swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday. All other pools are closed, and after Labor Day all outdoor pools will close for the season.