Fall Fest at Schweitzer provides music with a view – and plenty of culinary options
Last year, we forgot the orange juice, so we adapted.
Orange-flavored vitamin C tablets with champagne doesn’t exactly make a classic Mimosa, but it got the job done.
With three days of entertainment ahead of us at the Fall Fest at Schweitzer – eight bands and 60-plus microbrews to sample – starting the day off right was not only essential, it was tradition. We stumbled upon this annual gathering after a failed attempt to cross the Canadian border four years ago. Now in its 23rd year, the event offers the same sanctuary it did then, and after several consecutive pilgrimages, we’ve got it dialed in.
Schweitzer Mountain, just 11 miles northwest of Sandpoint, sets the scene for this magnificent affair. More renowned for skiing than perhaps anything else, the mountain hosts a variety of activities year-round. Schweitzer Village serves as headquarters, offering lodging and dining choices, shopping and even spa facilities. Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding Bitterroot and Cabinet ranges wrap around the resort’s center courtyard – an idyllic backdrop for summer’s last hurrah.
Qualifications
Fall Fest caters to diversity, offering something for everyone, regardless of mental state, age or gender. There are no dress codes; biker garb – motor and pedal – mix harmoniously, as does tie-dye and North Face. One must be open, however, to a variety of musical tastes.
The day might start with folksy tunes, transition into bluesy, post-modern soul, and finish with medieval-themed prog rock, complete with theatrical sword skirmishes by men in tights.
Each year is different, but change is good, and with so many beers to sample (or wine for those with slightly upturned noses), there’s plenty of liquid courage to drown out any inhibitions.
Activities
Not just for adults, Fall Fest strives to entertain kids too young to enjoy anything but the Wiggles, or those too old to stomach their aging parents getting funky on the lawn.
Last year’s Kid’s Zone was available for pre-adolescents interested in making organic bird feeders and sno-cones. Thrill seekers safely tested their skills on a climbing wall or – for a real shot of adrenaline – a trip down the zip line.
Families can take the chair lift to the top for spectacular views, or explore one of the 20-plus hiking and biking trails snaking across the mountain. A “lucky few,” according to the clerk at Selkirk Lodge, might be fortunate enough to run into the resident momma bear and her cubs on the Upper Grr trail. Bear bells are available for purchase for those wishing to formally announce the arrival of dinner.
Lodging
The resort smartly offers room packages in two separate lodges, but these fill up fast and advance reservations are recommended.
For those budget conscious folks willing to rough it Burning Man style – sans the nudity and psychedelics – the lower parking lots offer plenty of level space for overnight campers.
There are no porta-potties, however, so make friends with your travel trailer neighbors, or bring preparations from home. An old toilet seat and a 5-gallon bucket filled with cat litter works well. Just don’t forget the lid.
Food
American obesity has been called an epidemic in the media, but Fall Fest organizers have, thankfully, largely ignored these reports. Quite possibly secretly sponsored by Spanx, an obnoxious assortment of food options dominate Fall Fest, ranging from vendor concocted BBQ brisket sandwiches and wood-fired nachos, to classic fair staples like elephant ears and kettle corn.
A number of bars and pubs are also open, with a variety of drink options available after the beer tent has closed up. Gourmet and organic foodstuffs, such as jams and specialty sauces, round out the culinary possibilities, if you still have room.