Idaho events

Among the event highlights in Idaho this fall:

• Art in the Park, Friday-next Sunday, Boise. Artists from throughout the Northwest bring original works of art to display and sell at this three-day outdoor event that includes a variety of food and entertainment. Held at Julia Davis Park with proceeds benefiting the Boise Art Museum. (208-345-8330, www.boiseartmuseum.org)

• Fiesta Idaho, Sept. 11-12, Nampa. A celebration of Idaho’s Hispanic heritage, featuring Mexican folk arts, music, Menudo cook-off, traditional food, loteria games, kids bullfighting, mariachi concert and a classic low-riders car show. (208-442-0823, www.hccidaho.org)

• Lumberjack Days, Sept. 16-19, Orofino. An international event that attracts loggers from all over the world to engage in competitions that include burling, axe throwing, tree race, two-person hand saw and power saw races. Also enjoy a horse pulling contest, the Lumberjack Days Dance at the VFW Building and the annual ice cream social at the Clearwater Historical Museum. (208-476-4335, www.orofino.com)

• Lava Rama, Sept. 18-19, Lava Hot Springs. Sporting events for all levels including a mountain bike race, a fun run and walk and a downhill mountain bike race on Sunday. (208-776-5221, www.lavahotsprings.com)

• Idaho Spud Day, Sept. 18, Shelley. An annual country-style gala celebration of the Idaho potato, with a parade, music, demolition derby, free baked potato lunch at noon, Dutch oven cook-off, world championship potato picking and Spud Tug. (208-529-9619, www.ci.shelley.id.us)

• Silver City Open House, Sept. 18-19, Silver City. Tours of 10 buildings in the historic mining town including the church, constructed in 1898, and the Masonic Lodge, built in 1867. (208-583-4104, www.ghosttowns.com)

• Museum Comes to Life, Sept. 25, Boise. Celebrate Idaho’s living history at the Idaho Historical Museum. Step back in time with pioneer children’s games, ethnic and country dancing, spinning and weaving, recycling, basket weaving, blacksmithing, quilting, broom making, musket loading, flintknapping and more. (208-334-2120, www.idahohistory.net/museum.html)

• Thousand Springs Festival, Sept. 25-26, Hagerman. A celebration of nature in the spectacular setting of the Nature Conservancy’s Thousand Springs Preserve. Arts and crafts, food, fine art auction, raffle, live music, antique dairy barn tours, hiking, meals, free horse and wagon rides. (208-788-2203, www.nature.org)

• Scarecrow Festival, Oct. 1-2, Meridian. Citywide scarecrow contest, arts and crafts, historical scavenger hunt, pumpkin bowling, wine tasting. (208-888-2817, www.meridianchamber.org)

• Trailing of the Sheep Festival, Oct. 8-10, Ketchum. Events include a variety of cultural activities and programs relating to the history of sheep ranching in Idaho and the Basque and Scottish heritage of the region including a sheep poetry reading and music, sheep folk life fair, storytelling, and guided walk to view sheepherder tree carvings, workshops on spinning, weaving and cooking with lamb, parade of local herders and their sheep through downtown Ketchum. (208-726-3423, www.visitsunvalley.com)

• South “Western” Idaho Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Heritage Days, Oct. 15-16, Emmett. A cowboy poetry gathering honoring the Western heritage of the area, with poetry and music. (208-365-3485, www.emmettidaho.com)

Source: Idaho Department of Commerce (800-VISIT-ID, www.visitid.org)