July 13, 2009

Media Contacts:                                                                        
Haley Sorbel - 208.946.8731                                                                   Communications
Coordinator                                                                  
Patrick Sande - 208.255.3031                                                                   Marketing
Manager 

 Sandpoint- Summertime and bluegrass go together like fiddles and banjos, beer and barbecue, and music and dancing, all of which are best experienced on a mountain, at the same time! This could be why Schweitzer’s annual Bluegrass Festival is one of the highlights of the summer season. This will be the 9th year for the free concert taking place Saturday, July 18th.  

“People actually plan their summers around coming to this event and it’s one of the few festivals in the area that’s free!” said Schweitzer Events Director, Mary Weber-Quinn. “Families can spend the entire morning playing on the mountain and finish out their days with great music and dancing.” She adds that she is very excited that Clumsy Lovers, who performed at the first Bluegrass Fest nine years ago, are making a return this year.  

The Festival features three bands this year. Local band Bonds and Coats featuring Doug Bond and Dennis Coats will open the event from 1 to 2:30 p.m., followed by Eastern Washington’s Custer’s Grass Band from 3 to 4:30 p.m., and the Clumsy Lovers make a return to the mountain to finish out the evening from 5 to 7 p.m. 

In addition to a great musical lineup, guests will get a chance to experience all the great summertime activities Schweitzer has to offer, including horseback rides, scenic chairlift rides, hiking, biking, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, and much more. It will also be an opportunity for families to check out the new mountain bike trail, The Beargrass Cruiser and the new village Disc Golf Course. Lift rides and activities run daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Lodging is still available for the weekend and the Bluegrass Festival is the perfect time to enjoy the Schweitzer Great Escape Package, which offers a $30 in adventure bucks per night per person to be spent anywhere on the mountain as well as a few locations in Sandpoint or at Silverwood Theme Park. Packages are based on quad occupancy and start at $59 per night.