Family entertainment the key to Sherman Alive!

In a town that can often be overrun by visitors during the summer months, a new series of events is designed to appeal to local families looking for a good time.

“Sherman Alive!” kicks off Thursday in downtown Coeur d’Alene as a weekly Thursday evening street fair featuring a variety of different themes throughout the summer.

Sherman Avenue will be closed during each Sherman Alive! event between Second Street and Sixth Street, opening it up to activities, pedestrians, vendors and dining. The first event will center on new cars.

Sherman Alive! is the brainchild of the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association.

“We have a lot of visitors on the weekends, but we wanted to do something from the locals as well,” said Gay Glasson, the association’s events coordinator.

The pedestrian-friendly events will run each Thursday through Aug. 28, with a one-Thursday hiatus on July 31 because of all the preparations for Art on the Green and the Street Fair that weekend.

“There are going to be activities for the whole family,” Glasson said.

Plans are being finalized for some of the weeks, but Glasson said participants can expect food and entertainment each week. In addition, themed activities could include bike rodeos, face-painting or movies.

The last Sherman Alive! celebration will be like an old-time fair, with activities like a pie-eating contest and dunk tank, she said.

Mary Peak, owner of the Christmas at the Lake shop, is coordinating efforts for Dog d’Alene on Aug. 14. It’s also a fundraiser for the Kootenai Humane Society.

Peak said she envisions doggie costume contests, dog-owner look-alike contests and more.

“We’re encouraging everybody to bring their well-behaved puppy dogs down,” she said.

Peak added that the beauty of Sherman Alive! is the variety.

“I’m a big believer in different things for different people,” she said. “Each night offers a different event.”