Micro-Events look to bring life back to downtown Cd’A

Craig Moss sees the rest of 2020 as an opportunity for downtown businesses to regain some lost ground.

“The closures have definitely impacted our business,” the co-owner of All Things Irish on Sherman Avenue said. “It’s impacted all the businesses downtown. But we’re adjusting accordingly, and this is one way to help that.”

After the COVID-19 pandemic all but eliminated large gatherings, bedrock events like Car d’Lane, the Fourth of July Parade and fireworks show, and Ironman eventually canceled for the safety of the community. With a near-empty calendar ahead, the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association unveiled 11 micro-events through the end of the year. Emily Boyd, events coordinator for the Downtown Association, said the events are a way for people to enjoy the community while still practicing safe protocols.

“I think it boosts community morale, first and foremost,” Boyd said. “It’s a great way to give families and friends something fun to do. I think people are missing that right now.”

Boyd said foot traffic downtown was eliminated after the shut-down order at the end of March, and though businesses have once again been allowed to open, many businesses are still seeing a hard recovery.

“Our main reason is to keep downtown a vibrant community,” Boyd said.

While many of the micro-events are smaller versions of traditional Coeur d’Alene festivities — such as Oktoberfest Sept. 18-20 — some events are brand new, starting with this coming weekend’s scavenger hunt.

Participants will purchase $10 tickets through the Downtown Association’s website for the day they wish to participate: Aug. 21, Aug. 22 and Aug. 23. Once the ticket is purchased, each participant will get clues, discover hidden treasures throughout participating businesses and keep score. At the end of each day, the top three winners will receive gift cards, all totaling $500. People can participate in small groups of family and friends, Boyd said.

“And all that money goes back into the community and to help downtown businesses,” she added.

RJ Rueber, owner of Calypsos on Lakeside Avenue, said he was looking forward to the scavenger hunt.

“We’re excited to be a part of it,” he said. “We’re really interested in seeing how it goes. It’s kind of like a way to work around what’s going on. Instead of having big events like everyone is used to … this is just kind of a way once a week to space it out and give people more breathing room.”