A tradition of family fun
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Lee Downing and 4-year-old son Brendan play “Plink-O” for a chance to win a T-shirt or a mystery prize Saturday at Q’emiln Park during the annual Post Falls Festival. Post Falls officials estimated about 15,000 people will enjoy the three-day festival, which continues at 10 a.m. today with community worship services in the park and vendors, entertainment, food and activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Robert Sadler of Kingston crouches next to his 1950 Ford Model T Lizzy Torpedo during the Post Falls Festival car show Saturday. "Tin Lizzy" is a quarter-scale of a regular Model T and took Sadler about 18 months and $3,000 to complete. "My favorite part is the front end because it's a Model T, and the lights are actually made out of fruit cans," he said. "I built the bumper, I fabricated and welded it and I built the windshield, built all that by hand." (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Homemade jams, jellies, pickles and honey harvested in Rose Lake are among Timber Guier's offerings at her "Timber's Tasty Treats" table Saturday during the Post Falls Festival craft fair. Other crafts on display and for purchase included hand-made signs, 3D photography, fiber arts and other unique North Idaho creations. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Families from all over the Inland Northwest visited Q'emiln Park to enjoy live entertainment, merchandise and craft booths, kids activities and a variety of festival fare Saturday during the Post Falls Festival. The fun continues today with community worship in the park at 10 a.m. and vendors and food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — Sunshine, live music, classic cars, local vendors and an abundance of fun drew families from all over the Inland Northwest to the Post Falls Festival on Saturday.
“It’s something to do to support the local businesses out here,” said Aaron Page of Post Falls, who attended the festival with his wife and son. “It’s super cool. It’s just nice to get everybody out and moving around and active.”
The activity bustled in Q’emiln Park as a row of food vendors sold creamy huckleberry ice cream, colorful shaved ice and crispy curly fries to hungry and hot fairgoers.
The craft fair under the pavilion featured the unique creations of several local artisans, ranging from 3D photography to baked goods.
Timber Guier of Silverton and her mother-in-law, Darlene Patterson of Post Falls, chatted with guests as they admired the display of jams, jellies, pickles and Rose Lake honey on the “Timber’s Tasty Treats” table.
Timber held up a jar, describing her process for making jalapeno and fresh mint jelly.
“I boil it down into a syrup form and then I add the pectin and the sugar and then I let it set for 24 hours and it’s ready for the consumer the very next day,” she said.
Although it sounds spicy, it’s quite palatable and popular for use in meats and marinades, “which is interesting, because I never think of jelly being a marinade,” she said.
Auto decals, leather goods, summer clothing, dreamcatchers and a variety of merchandise can be found in the thoroughfare, which sprawls beneath Q’emiln’s shady pines. The fun zones include inflatable water slides and other attractions to keep kids entertained and cool on a hot summer day.
The show and shine car show at Post Falls City Hall featured nearly 40 entries of classic and custom cars.
A jovial Robert Sadler of Kingston had his 1950 Model T Tin Lizzy Torpedo on display and happily answered questions about the 225-pound miniature vehicle, which is a quarter-scale model of a regular Model T and was once a child’s toy.
“It was an original car. It was garbage when I got it,” he said. “I built an awful lot of stuff on it that you can’t buy and you have to make.”
It took 18 months and about $3,000 to complete “Tin Lizzy,” which is now a parade favorite and loved by kids.
“My favorite part is the front end because it’s a Model T, and the lights are actually made out of fruit cans,” Sadler said.
Post Falls Parks and Recreation manager Traci Stevenson handed out T-shirts and whistles at the information booth when visitors played “Plink-O” for prizes. She said usually about 15,000 people come through the three-day festival each year.
“I just love that it’s a free community event and people come out and enjoy our park,” she said. “We lucked out with the good weather.”
The Post Falls Festival fun continues today with worship services at 10 a.m. in Q’emiln Park and vendors and activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.