Fall Fest at Schweitzer is 25 Years Old!

Annual Event Grows to 4 Days, Expands Location

Over the years, festivals celebrating the ever-growing craft beer industry have sprouted up around the Pacific Northwest but none have aged as well as Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s Fall Fest. Coming into its 25th year, the resort is excited to offer new and exciting additions to this Labor Day staple. 

“Fall Fest has had 24 years of great beers and incredible music in our village location,” says Schweitzer’s Events Manager, Brandon Peterson. “This year, to really emphasize the milestone anniversary, Schweitzer decided to take things up a notch and do what any solid 25 year old does – move out. Out of the village, that is.” 

The resort noticed that with an ever growing fan base for Fall Fest, hitting 25 is a good time to expand and improve on the tried & true formula that makes Fall Fest a must do. “With 100 beers & ciders on tap under the tents, we decided to move over to the tennis court area, freeing up the village green to become the spot for non-beer related activities,” explains Peterson. “The climbing wall, monkey jumper, soda tasting and other kid friendly attractions will all be in one place on the green.” 

Schweitzer will also debut a new stage location below the Musical Chairs lift, near the top of Happy Trails. “The natural slope creates an amphitheater that’s perfect for showcasing the live performers at Schweitzer over the weekend,” notes Peterson. “It’s free to enjoy the music and with great bands like The Incredible Flying Dookie Brothers, Andrea Harsell & Luna Roja, Dimestore Phophets, Rust on the Rails, Honeysuckle with Holly McGarry, The Hawthorne Roots, Danny Dodge and the Dodge Gang, Voltalux, and Petty Fever – there’s no better place to spend Labor Day weekend than at Schweitzer, taking in the views of Lake Pend Oreille.”

Fall Fest kicks off on Friday, September 1 with a new evening program that will include beer tasting, a VIP beer dinner and live music from 4pm – 8pm with headliner New Kingston, a chart topping reggae band from Brooklyn, New York. Fall Fest continues on Saturday & Sunday, September 2 & 3, from 11am - 6pm and on Monday, September 4, from 11am - 4pm. The ever-popular souvenir mugs and glasses are available for pre-purchase online and onsite during the weekend as supplies last.  

“If you haven’t had a chance to join us for Fall Fest in the past, this is the year to be here,” says Peterson. 
 
Labor Day weekend is the last full weekend of summer operations on the mountain with the chairlift and other activities closed after September 4, 2017. For more information about Fall Fest, the full music line up and all the activities at Schweitzer, visit www.schweitzer.com.