By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff
Next weekend marks a quarter-century of rocking out in the woods for SummerFest.
Courtesy photo.
The Eureka Institute’s annual music festival — known colloquially for years as “Jerry Fest” — is celebrating 25 years in 2019, and the line-up exemplifies the breadth of genre the weekend is known to host.
On two stages tucked into the Sagle trees, performers will fill two days — July 12 and 13 — with music and dance. Friday’s music acts include Trout Steak Revival, 45th Street Brass Band, Honeysuckle, Boulder Creek Bluegrass Band and Cole and the Thornes. Saturday will bring music from Diggin Dirt, Moontricks, Them Coulee Boys, BareGrass, Breadbox, the Brenden Kelty Trio, Big Phatty and the Inhalers, John Firshi, and The Wildcrafters, as well as dance performances by The Gypsy Divas and magic with Star Alexander.
The weekend-long festivities serve as not only an arts-rich mini getaway, but proceeds from SummerFest make a lasting impact by going toward the Eureka Institute’s Construction Basics Initiative. The program provides underserved and at-risk teens the opportunity to learn hands-on carpentry skills which are then put to use building and repairing North Idaho’s nonprofit and public infrastructure.
Robb Talbott of Mattox Farm Productions helps book the talent for SummerFest, and said what stands out to him most about the event is the widespread influence it has on the Sandpoint community as a whole.
“We get together to enjoy each other’s company in a way no other festival does — with music, food and a variety of activities for all ages all for a very reasonable price,” Talbott said. “And the proceeds from this event go to teaching teens valuable skills that improve their lives by building and repairing structures that improve the lives of others in the community. It’s a win, win, win to me.”
SummerFest takes place July 12-14 at 6162 Eureka Rd. in Sagle. Camping spaces are available, but the Eureka Institute asks SummerFest attendees leave pets at home. Camp stoves are also not allowed, but there will be hot food from Eichardt’s and Sandpoint Curry available for purchase, and cold or pre-cooked food is welcome.
Buy tickets to SummerFest at Eichardt’s or online at eurkea-institute.org, and learn more about this year’s acts by visiting www.mattoxfarm.com/summerfest.
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Coming up this week! Don’t miss out on Live performances of music & theater, fundraising, and more! See the full list of events in the 
