Rathdrum Days begins three-day run tonight

RATHDRUM - Gentlemen, start your wife-carrying engines. The 36th annual Rathdrum Days celebration is calling you.

The three-day festival, which features a wife (or friend) carry contest, parade, music, vendors, lawn mower races, a basketball tournament and other activities, will be held tonight through Sunday.

Tonight's activities on Main Street include a classic car cruise from 5 to 10 p.m., music by Strictly Business from 6 to 10 p.m. and kids' activities.

The parade will be on Saturday at 10 a.m. on Main Street.

"We have reversed the direction of the parade with the sign-in table and staging at Main and Washington," said Shanie Rountree, the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce membership and events director.

The parade will be westbound on Main to Coeur d'Alene Street.

The announcer and judges will still be in front of City Hall.

Another highlight on Saturday will be a wife (or friend) carry contest at 5 p.m. at Rathdrum City Park. Teams must consist of one male and one female. There is no entry fee. The award is $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.

Participants can register at the event, Dashco (14319 Highway 53), or at the chamber of commerce, 8184 W. Main.

"The wife carry competition should be really fun - either enter or watch," Rountree said.

The 5-kilometer fun run starts at 8 a.m. at Lakeland High, a three-on-three basketball tournament starts at 9 a.m. at Lakeland Junior High and the wiener dog races start at noon at Lakeland Junior High.

The food and vendor fair runs at the high school from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Lions Club's classic car show is at Lakeland Junior High from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday's schedule includes the lawn mower races at 11 a.m. behind McDonald's.

The vendor and food fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the high school. The Spokane River Band will provide music from 10 a.m. to noon.