Great events take great people

Oh, Coeur d’Alene.

How do we define you?

You’re often deemed majestic, beautiful, quaint, or as Barbara Walters said so many years ago, you are “a little slice of heaven.”

Perhaps one of the best, yet most understated, descriptors of Coeur d’Alene is vibrant: full of energy and enthusiasm.

The vitality of the Lake City shines each summer as local organizations work together to offer a steady stream of events and activities shaped by the needs, wants and desires of community members.

For athletes and those who love to cheer them on, Coeur d’Alene is more than a little slice of heaven, with multiple distance competitions for runners, cyclists and swimmers.

There are frequent opportunities to enjoy art, plays, opera, food and craft brews.

Several days a week, you can grab a lawn chair, head out and find a spot to sit back and enjoy a free live concert.

Also known as a generous community, Coeur d’Alene offers impressive summer fundraisers, opportunities for the philanthropic-minded to collectively give back while having fun.

And none of this happens on its own.

Behind every great event, especially the big ones, are organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Association, the Citizens Council for the Arts and the Fair Board — groups that put great thought into determining the kinds of activities that are offered.

They also provide oversight and planning to ensure events like Ironman, coming up this weekend for the first time in August, and the North Idaho State Fair next week, are safe, fun and as unobtrusive as possible for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Another necessary ingredient in the success of these events and their positive economic contribution to our area is you.

Next time you’re in the midst of the energy and enthusiasm of a great event, and you’re feeling impressed by the efforts others have made to create something special for everyone, give yourself some credit, too. Without the community’s support, Coeur d’Alene would still be a beautiful, majestic “little slice of heaven,” but its summers wouldn’t be quite so vibrant.