Fresh fruit and furry friends
Photos: DEVIN WEEKS/Press Post Falls siblings Savannah Traxtle, 9, with dog Emma, and brother Tristan Traxtle, 12, with Bat-Dog Sox, show off the matching costumes they wore to Fall Fest and Apple Palooza in downtown Coeur d’Alene on Saturday. Lots of kids and even some adults and their canine counterparts dressed up for the festivities, which included the inaugural pet costume contest.
Fall Fest and Apple Palooza guests get toted around town on a free hayride Saturday afternoon in downtown Coeur d’Alene. The last day of the 2018 Kootenai County Farmers’ Market was bustling as people purchased goods and produce and enjoyed the sunny day. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Miniature dachshund Gen. Patton struts in his fancy hot dog costume Saturday during Fall Fest and Apple Palooza in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Patton, who belongs to Rick and Jeanna Matoy of Post Falls, was one of many costumed canines who participated in the first Fall Fest pet costume contest.
Zain Schoonover, 12, loves on a very cozy bunny, Chiffon, at the Animal Party Rabbitry booth Saturday during Fall Fest and Apple Palooza. Animal Party owner Sheryl Martin brought 11 bunnies to the festival and for a small fee welcomed attendees to hold a bunny for a little while and enjoy some bunny therapy. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — Furry friends and fresh, fruity fare were just a couple reasons to visit downtown for Fall Fest and Apple Palooza on Saturday.
The pleasant sunshine didn’t hurt, either.
“It’s such a beautiful day. The weather’s perfect,” said Kootenai County Farmers’ Market board member Susi Faville. “It just feels really good. This is such a community event.”
Wafts of aromatic mulled apple cider permeated the crisp air as the twangs of bluegrass banjos and guitars could be heard all around Sherman Avenue and Fifth Street while people shopped the harvest market for the last time this season.
Chili peppers dangled from tent canopies, bottles of flavor-infused vinegar sparkled in the sun and curious market-goers chatted directly with farmers and artisans about their fruit preserves, embroidered towels, tamale recipes and more.
"The best thing about the farmers’ market is we’re all producers. Everybody’s making or growing or harvesting what they're selling," Faville said. "When the customer is standing here, they’re talking to the producer. That’s a big deal."
Fall Fest and Apple Palooza were presented by the Kootenai County Farmers Market and the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association. Downtown Association manager Terry Cooper cheerfully chauffeured guests around downtown on free hayrides.
"It is so fun today," said Downtown Association event coordinator Emily Boyd. "A lot of families have come out. It's a very hometown feel. Everyone's relaxing and enjoying themselves."
Several downtown businesses participated in the apple treat challenge, providing visitors with unique apple creations that included fried apples and cheese on crackers at Finan McDonald, cran-apple bread in Angel Gallery and candy apple saltwater taffy at Figpickels Toy Emporium.
The people's choice award tied between the mouth-watering apple crepes at Shenanigans Sweets and Treats and the decadent apple waffle treat at Woops! Coeur d’Alene bakeshop.
"It's a way to get people inside the businesses. I can't tell you how many people have come by and told me, 'Oh my gosh, I've never been inside this business before,'" Boyd said. "Just having a community event downtown, I mean, we have this beautiful city, we might as well put it to good use and have the community come down and enjoy everything."
This was the first year the festivities included a pet costume contest, so many a costumed canine could be found accompanying their humans to the photo booth.
Post Falls siblings Savannah Traxtle, 9, and Tristan, 12, dressed their dogs in costumes that matched their own.
"He fought me the first time and I just threw it on him, he did not like it,” said "Batman" Tristan, whose costume matched his "Bat-Dog" boxer, Sox. "But he’s nice."
Their grandma, Coleen Anderson, said their family went to Fall Fest and Apple Palooza to see all the people and the colors of the autumn leaves.
"It’s something for the kids and the family to enjoy together,” she said.