As summer heats up in the valley, it’s time to head to the hills.
There’s not a better day to be found than in mountains of the St. Joe River Valley, sitting by one of the refreshing creeks, casting a fly rod in one of the rivers’ many fishing holes or picking huckleberries along a sunny slope.
August is prime time to visit St. Maries and all its scenic playground has to offer.
If the success was measured by the smiles on the faces of the children at the Mid-Summer Family Fun Day at St. Maries City Park, the weekend was nothing less than fabulous!
The smART Festival, St. Joe Valley Car Club’s Car Show-n-Shine and the Grass Drags are behind us, but there are still dozens community events planned for our beautiful valley.
Saturday is Pioneer Day in Fernwood, with fireman’s breakfast, parade, horseshoe tournament, bingo, bake sales and an auction.
This weekend is also the St. Maries Saddle Club Horse Show and O-Mok-See at Benewah County Fairgrounds arena. There is plenty of shade for spectators to watch the talented riders and their horses compete for ribbons and prizes. Concessions will be available too.
Saturday and Sunday Xmas Hills will be the site of the 2012 Endurance Scramble. Registration is Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. The children’s races start at 9 a.m. and the big bikes at noon, Saturday & Sunday.
And there’s so much more you can do on the rivers or in the mountains!
Whether you’re in town to for the horse show, spending the day UpRiver’s Pioneer Days or the Endurance Scramble at Xmas Hills, biking, fishing or floating the river, make the most of your weekend with a trip to St. Maries.
ST. MARIES HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS WEEKEND …
… AND WE HAVE THE SCHEDULE TO PROVE IT:
ST. JOE VALLEY SHOW-N-SHINE – Upper City Park
FRIDAY, JULY 20
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Registration for open cruise in the IGA Parking Lot
6:30 p.m. Cruise from IGA Parking Lot to 14th Street and back through town. Cars will be announced at Les Schwab.
SATURDAY, JULY 21
8 a.m. to Noon Show-N-Shine Registration in the City Park
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open Show-N-Shine, City Park
1:00 p.m. Blow Up Cop Car Engine
3:00 p.m. Presentation of Awards
3:00 p.m. Draw Tickets for Shriner’s Gun Raffle
All Day NASCAR Tire Changing Contest & Chicken Dropping Contest, Food Booth – Hamburgers, Sausages from Scheffelmaiers, Beer Garden, Our Famous Onions & Mushrooms, Vendor Booths – Scentsy, Paparazzi Jewelry & Handbags
8:30 p.m. Dance the night away to the fabulous Kingpins, $5 per person. Must be 21 years old to attend.
s.m.ART FESTIVAL– Cherry Bend Boaters Park
SATURDAY, JULY 21
7:30 a.m. Kiwanis Breakfast
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art Booths featuring pottery, photography, stained glass, fused glass, jewelry, paintings, drawings, metal sculptures & more.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hands-on Adult Assisted Creative Experience for Children 4-12
11 a.m. St. Maries Community Band
12:15 p.m. PJ Destiny Performs
1:15 p.m. Performance by St. Maries Community Choir
2:30 p.m. Performance by Roberson, Beese & Flores with Tom Lamb
3:30 p.m. Daniel Compton Performs.
5 to 8 p.m. Jam Band Concert
All Day Silent Auction, Beer and Wine Garden, Clothesline Art Sales and Craft Vendors
SUNDAY, JULY 22
7:30 a.m. Kiwanis Breakfast
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art Booths featuring pottery, photography, stained glass, fused glass, jewelry, paintings, drawings, metal sculptures & more.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hands-on Adult Assisted Creative Experience for Children 4-12
11 a.m. PJ Destiny Performs
Noon All That Jazz Performance
3:30 p.m. Canned Music
All Day Silent Auction, Beer and Wine Garden, Clothesline Art Sales and Craft Vendors
MID SUMMER FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL – Lower City Park
SATURDAY, JULY 21
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. All events in lower City Park
9 a.m. Register for BBQ Cook-Off
NOON Watermelon Eating Contest
1 p.m. & 2 p.m. Mechanical Bull Riding Contest (Teen & Adult Divisions)
3:30 p.m. Frog Queen Coronation
4 p.m. BBQ Cook-Off Judging
All Day Live Entertainment, Children’s Activities, Ladder Golf, Minute-To-Win-It, Activities for the Entire Family, Prize Drawings, 4 Fun 50/50 Raffle, Frog Races, Bouncy Castle, Schwan’s Ice Cream & More, Fabulous Crafts for Kids 11 & under, Great Food
SUMMER SUCKS GRASS DRAGS – Hay field on Lumberjack Lane
FRIDAY, JULY 20
3 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration. Cost $35
SATURDAY, JULY 21
7 to 9:30 a.m. Regular Registration. Costs $40
10 a.m. Races Start
All Day Camping Spaces Available, Beer Garden, Food Vendors, Merchandise Available
SUNDAY, JULY 22
10 a.m. Races Start
ALL DAY Camping Spaces Available, Beer Garden, Food Vendors, Merchandise Available
And as I’ve said before, there is a whole lot of happenings in St. Maries this weekend.
The weekend events start Friday night with the St. Joe Valley Car Club’s old fashion cruise through Main at 6PM and runs through Sunday at 5PM when the smART Festival at Cherry Bend closes another year.
Between the events sponsored by the St. Joe Valley Car Club, the St. Maries Council for the Arts, the St. Joe Snow Riders and the St. Maries Rotary Club there is something for everyone, and I do mean everyone.
One event is the Rotary’s second annual Mid-Summer Family Fun Festival in the lower portion of City Park near the Little League fields. The Festival alone has dozens of events and attractions. There are Jump Houses for the children, and dozens of contests, including frog races, a barbeque cook-off, watermelon eating and mechanical bull riding. There are some terrific door prizes and a lot of great fun.
Buy a 50/50 raffle ticket at any of the four events, have it stamped at the car show, the art festival, grass drags and the family festival, and qualify to enter the raffle for half the take of all tickets sold. It could add up to some cool cash in your pocket, but regardless who wins the the raffle, everyone is guaranteed to find something to fin their idea of fun this weekend!
But have no fear, the weekend’s coming!
And what perfect weather for a perfect weekend in St. Maries!
Looking to play some golf? How about the St. Maries Shriners’ annual tournament? The four-person scrabble begins at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at the beautiful St. Maries Golf Course. For more information you can call Marvin Wheeler, 689-9171 or call Connie at the club house, 245-3842.
It’s a great event, sponsored by great people, for great causes.
That’s just one more thing added to an already busy weekend lineup in St. Maries this weekend.
Don’t forget the Rotary Club’s Mid-Summer Family Fun Day at the lower section of City Park, while the St. Joe Car Club Show-n-Shine is in the upper section. There’s also the Summer Sucks Grass Drags a half-mile from town at Meadowhurst and the annual smART Festival at Cherry Bend Boater’s Park on the St. Joe River where the St. Maries Kiwanians will be serving up some mighty fine eats.
Don’t you just love summer!
No doubt this is the weekend to visit St. Maries!
Dozens of area volunteers have come together to make the third weekend of July one of the best, and busiest, weekends in St. Maries.
The St. Maries Rotary Club’s Second Annual Mid-Summer Family Fun Day is Saturday in the lower portion of City Park, near the Cormana Building. There is something for everyone!
Those entering the BBQ Cook Off should be ready to start cooking at 9 a.m. There will be jump houses for the children starting at 11AM. The mechanical bull riding contests are at 1PM and 2PM. Other events include the Frog Races, a Kiss the Frog contest, watermelon eating contest, as well as other events and activities for all ages.
There will be a 50/50 drawing and door prizes awarded every half hour, including a children’s bicycle, tickets to Silverwood Theme Park and a $200 shopping spree at Archie’s IGA.
The money generated at the family fun day will go toward construction of the band shell planned for City Park.
St. Joe Valley Car Club sponsors its Show & Shine car show in City Park Saturday and the annual Car Club Dance Saturday night.
The Council for the Arts smART Festival gets underway Saturday morning at Cherry Bend Boaters Park and continues through Sunday at 5PM. The St. Maries Kiwanis Club will be serving breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music, art, food vendors, beer/wine garden and sunshine on the river are featured throughout the day.
If you prefer something with a little more zoom, checkout the Summer Sucks Grass Drags on the St. Joe Road at Meadowhurst. Local snowmobile enthusiasts pull out their sleds to race across the mowed hay fields. The money from the grass drags will benefit local charities.
Oh what fun there is to be had in St. Maries this weekend!
July is one of the best months to live or visit St. Maries!
In addition to great weather and a multitude of outdoor adventures, we have car shows, art shows, family-oriented events and the St. Joe Valley Car Club’s annual dance at the Cormana Building.
This year is the first for the Rat Rods Car Show at Aqua Park July 14. To qualify as a Rat Rod, forget the polish, forget the detailing, cars must be rusty and even a little dusty. Approximately 30 rods are expected to be parked along the Aqua Avenue next to the St. Joe River for the one-day show.
Save the polish for the return of the St. Joe Valley Car Club’s Show-n-Shine at City Park July 21. More than 100 cars are expected to fill the park and that’s a whole lot of chrome.
And for the kidos the St. Maries Rotary Club will sponsor its annual Family Fun Day at City Park. Not just the kids, but there will be tons of fun activities for the entire family.
In the mood for some good old rock & roll? Dance to the music of the Fabulous Kingpins at the ever-popular Car Club Dance July 21. Doors open at 8:30PM for the over 21 crowd.
And Art Shows! July starts with the Artist Reception from 3-5PM July 7 at the Art Gallery.
And you won’t want to miss the smART Festival under the cottonwood trees at Cherry Bend Boaters Park July 21 and July 22. Vendors from throughout the northwest bring their wares, their crafts, and their art for a two-day festival along the river. In addition art, there are children’s crafts, food vendors, a beer garden and music. So plan on spending the day or the weekend at the smART Festival.
If speed’s more your thing, check out the Summer Sucks Grass Drags. There’s no snow for the area snowmobile enthusiast so they’ll be running on the grass near in Meadowhurst near the high school.
The St. Joe Snow Riders Club organized the two-day race event to coincide with the other activities planned for a truly great weekend.
It’s another great week in St. Maries! The skies cleared this morning and forecasters are calling for “more of the same” . . . as in SUNSHINE through the Fourth of July.
So if you have yet to make your plans for the holiday, here’s what’s happening in the Beautiful St. Joe Valley, St. Maries and the surrounding area.
This weekend is the Idaho Saddle Club’s State O-Mok-Seek! Riders from throughout the state and parts of Washington will be showing their stuff at the Benewah County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday. Grand Entry is at 8:30 a.m. both mornings.
If you don’t ride, you might want to take in the show. Admission is free and the grandstands are covered so there’s plenty of shade.
If you’re aiming to head up river word is the fish are biting and at area lakes, fishermen are catching their limit of Blue Back in a matter of hours. The local sports shops are knowledgeable and ready to share the scoop as to what fly or bait the fish are hitting.
Saturday is the Fourth Annual St. Maries Elk’s Fishing Derby. The event is sponsored by Felton Auto Sales. Kids under 12 fish for free. The cost for adults and kids over 12 years can get tickets at the Elk’s Lodge, St. Joe Sports Stop, Blue Goose & Felton Auto sales through Saturday. Great prizes, great fun!
Hiking and biking is another to take advantage of this great summer weather. Drive to Avery and ride the Trail of the Hiawatha or catch the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes at Heyburn State Park. With high temps in the mid-70s the weather is perfect.
And those avid golfers would tell you mid-70s is perfect weather for golf! Saturday is the Rotary Club of St. Maries Charity Golf Scramble. Area businesses help sponsor the event that raised money for projects and good causes in the St. Maries area. The event begins with a Shotgun Start at 9AM at the St. Maries Golf Course.
Don your Stars and Stripes, deck the cart in streamers and flags, and make plans to join area golfers for the club’s the annual Red, White and Blue Tournament July 4. This annual event begins with opening ceremonies at 9AM. Even if you’re not a golfer, you’re invited to attend the ceremonies that will feature the St. Maries Community Chorus singing the National Anthem.
Whatever your weekend plans might include, remember to take advantage of everything our great valley has to offer!
One of the many great things about summer in small towns like St. Maries is the multitude of volunteers, civic groups and agencies who provide the activities that make summer fun for everyone.
The St. Maries City Swimming Pool offers early morning lap swim, and afternoon and evening family swim sessions. The pool is staffed with courteous, well-trained lifeguards and is a great way to spend a hot summer day.
Have you seen our parks lately? The crews have worked to maintain the parks and they are as green and as lovely as ever. The city park in the center of town, Mullan Trail Park on the west end at the fairgrounds, Vic Camm Park, Aqua Park along the river and Logger’s Memorial are welcoming to residents and visitors alike.
The St. Maries Public Library is another busy place this summer. In addition to regular hours, the library has Story Hour Tuesdays for children of all ages.
Volunteers have organized an adult softball league. Games start next week at the softball fields in City Park. The co-ed teams play Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
St. Maries is a great place this summer and year round!
I hear they’re catching fish.
Word is that although the waters of the St. Joe River remain high, it’s clear. Moreover the sun is shining, making a great day for fly fishing. If you’re lucky, you’ll hit a nice afternoon hatch, in a calm, cool pool and hook a picture-perfect rainbow. Don’t forget your camera.
And on area lakes the blue back are biting, as well as the bass and those great-northern pike.
Yes, it’s the middle of the week, but that means less competition for the best fishing holes. Take advantage of the sunshine and get out and enjoy all that St. Maries and the St. Joe Valley have to offer.
