By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
After taking last year off due to the pandemic, Schweitzer’s traditional end-of-summer event FallFest is back. Spanning four days between Friday, Sept. 3-Monday, Sept. 6, FallFest features more than 80 beers, ciders, seltzers and wines; 10 live bands; village activities; and chairlift service to the summit.
Top: Three FallFest attendees share some brews as they ride the Great Escape Quad up to the summit at Schweitzer. Courtsy photo.
“As we saw with WineFest back in July, people are so excited to be at the events and out and about,”Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer told the Reader. “We’re looking forward to seeing you all back at FallFest.”
As always, it’s completely free to attend FallFest and watch live music. The beer tent will be set up on the tennis courts near the bottom of the Great Escape Quad, with beer and wine packages starting at $20. There is also soda sampling, and single beers, wine and soda are available at an additional cost. The stage will be positioned on the Musical Chairs run with a beautiful backdrop of Sandpoint behind.
There will also be arts and crafts vendors located throughout the village and a food court nearby. Souvenir glassware is on sale all weekend and the chairlift will be open for sightseeing, hiking and mountain biking for $20/adults, $15/juniors.
Chrismer said the biggest thing to be aware of this year is the parking challenges due to construction of the new Humbird hotel in the village.
“We highly, highly request people to use the SPOT bus,” Chrismer said. “If you can, park at the red barn and use the shuttle. There’s a time schedule on our website.”
The chairlift will be open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday. The beer tent will be serving from 4-8 p.m. Friday, noon-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday.
FallFest marks the end of summer operations at Schweitzer, with staffers already preparing for the winter season ahead.
“It’s a culmination of summer, the last big hurrah,” Chrismer said. “It’s also a little bit of downtime to shift for winter. Put the mountain bikes away and get the skis out. It’s our last weekend to enjoy the last bits of summer.”
For more information about FallFest, visit Schweitzer.com.
LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE:
Fri., Sept. 3:
4-5:30 p.m. — Folk Crimes
6-8 p.m. — Slo Motion Walter
Sat., Sept. 4:
Noon-2 p.m. — Harold’s IGA
2:30-4:30 p.m. — Colby Acuff
5-7 p.m. — Zach Cooper Band
Sun., Sept. 5:
12-2 p.m. — BareGrass
2:30-4:30 p.m. — Miah Kohal Band
5-7 p.m. — Fat Lady
Mon., Sept. 6:
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Jason Perry Band
2-4 p.m. — The Powers
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Coming up this week! Don’t miss Festivus, Skiing with Santa, Hogwire, and more! See the full list of events in the 
