By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff
When Sandpoint isn’t operating at full summer capacity, welcoming tourists from all over the world and serving itself up as a perfect mountain town getaway, it is home to a robust base of year-rounders: the people who own the businesses, work at them and enjoy them no matter the season.
The Summer Sampler at Farmin Park. Courtesy photo.
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce hopes to shine a spotlight on those locals with its annual Summer Sampler at Farmin Park on Wednesday, June 24 from 5-8 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to sample food and drink offerings from the town’s robust restaurant scene, as well as have the opportunity to win raffles, including tickets to the upcoming Festival at Sandpoint. Proceeds will help benefit the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.
“I would say Summer Sampler is the unofficial kick-off to summer,” said Chamber Membership Specialist Ricci Witte. “We cater this event to locals in particular, advertising only in our area.”
Admission is free for all ages, but those hoping to nibble on samples will have to buy tickets for $1 each at the entrance. According to the organizers, food and drink samples will be priced between 3-7 tickets at each individual booth. Those hoping to buy alcoholic samples must present an ID.
There will also be live music from beloved singer-songwriter trio Baker, Thomas & Packwood, made up of locals Benny Baker, Ali Thomas and Sheldon Packwood.
While summer of 2020 saw Sandpoint teeming with tourists escaping COVID-19 restrictions in their home states, it’s events like Summer Sampler which will set the tone for the return to semi-normalcy for the area’s locals in 2021.
“We want to see some familiar faces, remind them what is available downtown and get the locals back into our bars and restaurants,” Witte said.
Those with questions about the 2021 Summer Sampler can contact the chamber at 208-263-2161.
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