Pacific Northwest Summer Events 2012

Staff Writer

Idaho Music & Wildflower Festival at Pebble Creek

June 23 - Pebble Lake Ski Area

Pebble Creek’s annual Wildflower Concert will be held from 5pm to 10pm on Saturday June 23.  Music by Blind Autumn will fill the slopes first, followed by the Aaron Ball Band.  Concert goers can nestle their lawn chairs and blankets in the wild flowers on the slopes. The hillside just above the deck provides a perfect view of both the performers and the sunset. A wild flower hike before the concert is a great way to start the evening.

Concert tickets are available in advance in Pocatello at Scott’s Ski and Sports, Barrie’s Sports, The College Market and The Raven’s Nest. Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10.00 at the gate. Children 12 and under are admitted to the concert free of charge. If the weather is wet, the concert will take place inside the lodge.

In celebration of the beautiful natural wildflower display, Pebble Creek will operate the Sunshine Triple Chair Lift before the concert, for persons wanting to take a wildflower hike back down the mountain. This year, flowers should be at their prime. There will be an interpretive display of wildflowers in the lodge area. Lift rides are offered from 4:00 to 6:45 PM. The cost for the lift ride is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids 5 to 12. Sorry, no kids under 5 are permitted on the lift.

Portneuf Brewing will serve a variety of their local brews and National Ski Patrol members will be barbecuing a delectable menu of food on the deck.

The Festival is a fundraiser for the Pebble Creek National Ski Patrol.

www.pebblecreekskiarea.com (208) 775-4452 info@pebblecreekskiarea.com

Freedom Fair Wings & Wheels

July 1 Narrows Airport, Gig Harbour WA

Back by popular demand, Wings & Wheels is an exciting celebration of planes, cars, & more. You can get up close & personal with the pilots, crews, and aircraft performing on July 4 over Commencement Bay.  Enjoy a close look at more than 85 vintage cars on display near the runway.  Hold your breath as Bill Braach and his fabulous Jet Car light up the runway in a race with an aircraft (the car won in 2011).  Let the music of the Air Force Band of the Golden West and “American Be Strong” with Tony LaStello throughout the day.  Hours are 11 am - 5 pm.  Free parking, but it goes fast, so don’t wait too long.

(253) 507-9357 www.freedomfair.com staff@freedomfair.com

51st Annual Anacortes Arts Festival

Aug 3 – 5 Anacortes, WA

For over 50 years now they have welcomed visitors and artists from throughout the region and beyond. This year they will re-establish the annual Juried Arts at the Port to showcase regional fine art and craft. Their juror is Barbara Matilsky, Curator of the Art at the Whatcom Museum, Bellingham, WA.

This year’s Juried Competition includes 83 regional artists with 114 works of art in drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and fine craft.

Culinary arts are offered with regional and ethnic foods, beer and wine gardens.

With a kinetic bent, the Experience Art Area features artists demonstrating steamroller block printing, glass blowing, chainsaw carving, sculpture, wood-turning, weaving, painting and more. Hands-on Youth Activities spark the creativity of the youngest festivalgoer’s.  Last but not least, the musical lineup includes rock, country, blues, world beat, Latin, Jazz and Folk. All free of charge.

(360) 482-3055 pr@anacortesartsfestival.com

2nd Annual Accordion Festival

Aug 10 – 12 Wallace, ID

Wallace will host the 2nd Annual Accordion Festival August 10-12 with a Friday evening concert, Saturday morning Accordion Celebration Parade, professional workshops, a street party and beer garden. Featured entertainers will be international award winner Michael Bridge in concert; The Portatos Youth Accordion Band; Patricia Bartel and Tango Volcado. Street performers will include Johnny V playing polka music and Duckmandu playing everything from rock to traditional. Tickets are $15 - $20 but the street party is free.

The town and nearby area offer visitors a variety of cultural, recreational and historic opportunities. Three museums, the Sierra Silver Mine Tour, seven antique shops, two breweries, unique gift shops, a variety of restaurants await visitors. The town is located adjacent to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene bike path and within a 20-minute drive of the Route of the Hiawatha, a biking experience that includes numerous tunnels and trestles. Visitors can enjoy a walk up the Pulaski (1910 Fire Interpretive) Trail, spend a night of theatrical amusement at the Sixth Street Melodrama and, starting this summer, can try their hand at zip lining across the mountainside.

(208) 699-5608 www.wallaceaccordionfestival.com

Blues and Seafood at the Port of Ilwaco

Aug 17-18 Ilwaco, WA

2012 is looking better then ever. The Friday Night All Star Jam features the Coyote Kings and the North Coast Blues Band. Saturday includes the hugely popular Boogie Bone, the Strange Tones with the Amazing Volcano Vixens and The Norman Sylvester Band.  For headliners they have The Heartbreakers, a terrific lineup of the Northwest’s greatest female blues singers. Go and get your heart broken. This is one you won’t want to miss.

The Food Court has lots of delights from Peninsula Seafood providers, as well as Micro Brews, Regional Wines and BBQed Oysters from Willapa Bay.

Find out more information at www.bluesandseafood.com.

(360) 642-3143 bruce@thewadegallery.com

Bannock County Bluegrass Festival

Aug 24 – 26 Pocatello, ID

Camping and RV sites are available at the 9th annual Bannock County Bluegrass Festival. Enjoy the sounds of Northern Departure (Seattle), Digger Davis & Tomestone (Texas), Molly & Tenbrooks (Spokane) and many more artists from all over the Northwest.

Each year some of the professional members of the bands that are playing at the festival teach a workshop, maybe a banjo player from one and a mandolin player from another or a fiddle player from another. These band members do the workshops on a voluntary basis to share their talents and knowledge with people of all ages.

www.bannockcountybluegrassfestival.com (250) 234-0200 bluegrassdiana45@yahoo.com