Live and in person
A mix of local musicians will set the tune for entertainment at this year’s North Idaho Fair, which offers a little something for just about everyone.
Kelly Hughes, a North Idaho native from Sandpoint, has been performing since he was 14 and owned Kelly’s Country Club in Stateline for more than 20 years. His band produced seven albums over the years and worked on stage with several big-time country musicians. The band will have three daily performances through Saturday and two performances on Sunday at the McCarty Drilling and Pump stage.
In addition, Joel Brantley, a native of Spokane, will keep the crowd moving through Western hoedowns and rock and roll sock hops each day of the fair on the Wells Fargo stage. Brantley graduated from Eastern Washington University with a minor in music and performed professionally since 1987. His shows have spanned the country and cruise ships with popular hits and patriotic tunes.
Other entertainers sharing the stage during the fair include comedian Clark Robertson and hypnotist Michael Mezmer.
Robertson, a polished performer for 15 years, will mix quick-witted comedy, colorful props and a juggling act during three daily shows on the Wells Fargo stage.
Mezmer’s antics through mind manipulation will turn members of the audience into stars for each show. He’ll perform daily on the McCarty Drilling and Pump stage.
Other entertainment at the fair ranges from high-powered motocross and hair-raising carnival rides to fun, friendly activities for kids in the Family Fun Park and unique dog shows.
Arena entertainment
Main entertainment for the arena will kick-start with motocross qualifying heats at 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday with the races at 7 p.m. Competitors will wrestle 250-pound off-road bikes through a course of sharp turns and steep slopes.
On Friday, horsepower in the arena will be on display through the Draft Horse Show at noon and the PRCA Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. The rodeo will continue 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by a Draft Horse Pull, which begins at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the final rodeo events will begin at 12:30 p.m. and a demolition derby starting at 4 p.m. will wrap up arena events this year.
Entertainment on fairgrounds
A packs of flying dogs will be part of several special performances at the fair this year. Five dogs from the K-9 Kings Flying Dog Show out of Bend, Ore., will chase after and chomp down on flying discs and perform other tricks each afternoon during the fair.
Other daily events include: Pippi the clown, who will roam the fair from 1-5 p.m.; The Big B Family Fun Park and Uncle Curly the Clown will be in the Family Fun Park; and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department will hold canine presentations each day in the midway show ring.
The Red Hot Mamas will parade through the fair 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and the Gadabouts will perform noon to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
On Friday, the fairgrounds entertainment also will include stories and crafts presented by the Coeur d’Alene Library from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Family Fun Park. In addition, the Coeurly Q’s will give a square dance demonstration at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Outside Building 1.
Additional Saturday events will include Build a Birdhouse with Ziggy’s from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Family Fun Park. At 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the Lake City Harmonizers will perform in the Midway Tent and at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., Shirts and Skirts Square Dance will demonstrate in Outside Building 1.