Q&A with The Festival at Sandpoint
- Like Media
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 1
By Like Media Team
Each summer, the Festival at Sandpoint transforms North Idaho into a haven for live music lovers. Set against the backdrop of Lake Pend Oreille and the Selkirk Mountains, this beloved event blends world-class performances with local pride, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that captures the heart of the Sandpoint community.
Q. How would you describe the spirit and experience of the Festival at Sandpoint?
A. As you approach the venue, the air is filled with palpable excitement and anticipation, mingling with the sounds of laughter and chatter from fellow concertgoers. Whether you're lounging on a blanket, sipping a cold drink, or dancing with friends, the Festival at Sandpoint offers an unforgettable experience where people of all ages come together to celebrate music, culture, and the natural splendor surrounding them. It's a place where memories are made, and the spirit of summer comes alive.
Q. The Festival has a rich history. Could you share how it began and what it has become today?
A. Since 1983, when the first series of performances was held at Schweitzer, the Festival at Sandpoint has expanded our musical offerings to include a variety of genres, including country, rock, pop, folk, and more. Alongside moving the events that now take place at War Memorial Field, our capacity has grown to allow more guests to attend our performances. To provide accessible music education to our community, the Festival offers year-round music education programs, including outreach to pre-K through elementary students, a free instrument lending library, and a youth string orchestra. We are currently actively growing our partnership with Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD) to better support their music program, and expanding our scholarship opportunities and ticket outreach program.
Q. What makes War Memorial Field such a special place for artists and guests?
A. The Festival at Sandpoint’s location, nestled amidst the stunning landscape of the Selkirk Mountains and the serene beauty of Lake Pend Oreille, makes it a truly special place for artists to perform and for guests to experience live music.
Q. How is the lineup selected, and what goes into creating such a memorable season?
A. Our booking team starts the process of booking artists for the following Summer Series over a year in advance. We strive to offer a diverse selection of genres to cater to a wide range of audiences, ensuring there is something for everyone. We also take into account the artist requests we receive through our email newsletter and social media platforms over the years, in an effort to offer performances that our community members would like to see. While a lot of the process is up to chance and depends on how tours are routed through, our team puts a lot of effort into creating a series that our entire community can enjoy.
Q. In what ways does the Sandpoint community help bring the Festival to life each year?
A. We are incredibly grateful for the community support of the event, hundreds of volunteers, and the contributions from local families and businesses that help make a festival of this caliber possible in rural North Idaho. Whether you are reuniting with old friends or just enjoying the shared experience of live music with strangers, you can’t help but feel the magic of the Festival and the community.
Q. Beyond the music, what other experiences and traditions can guests look forward to?
A. When guests aren’t busy dancing or mingling with friends, they can visit one of our various Festival Street food vendors, providing several options: barbecue, charcuterie, Mediterranean, and much more! They can also stop by one of our two on-site bar locations and enjoy one of our signature drinks, including a local favorite, the Tito’s Huckleberry Lemonade!
Q. What are you most excited about at this year’s Festival? Are there any new additions?
A. This year, we are adding an additional “Community Night” on Wednesday, July 30. It will feature four musicians who are local to North Idaho: Jojo Dodge, Harold’s IGA, Brittany’s House, and The Real McCoy.
As a major proponent of live music, we are excited to provide an opportunity for local musicians to perform on the Festival at Sandpoint stage and introduce the local community to the amazing talent in our region at an affordable price.
Q. What does being part of Sandpoint’s summer tradition mean to you and your team?
A. Our team is proud and honored to be part of an annual summer tradition that brings people of all ages together to celebrate music. Many of our team members were born and raised in Sandpoint and have grown up with the Festival at Sandpoint, which allows us to truly understand the impact that this annual event has on the community.
The Festival at Sandpoint
Office: 525 Pine Street, Sandpoint, ID
Venue: 801 Ontario Street, War Memorial Field, Sandpoint, ID
208.265.4554
Instagram & Facebook: festivalatsandpoint
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