By MIKE MCKENNA
Even though Labor Day has come and gone, summer doesn’t officially end for a couple more weeks. And, as so many of us know, fall is fantastic around here, especially now that there are so many awesome events. So, we hope you’re ready for an Autumn to Remember in the Wood River Valley.
The fun kicks off on Sept. 15 when Hispanic Heritage Month commences. The 6th Annual Hailey Hispanic Heritage Fest takes place on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Center West. The free, family-friendly event includes kids’ games and bouncy houses, arts, crafts and food vendors, live music and recognition of local leaders. Stay tuned for other events to honor our Hispanic heritage at locations throughout the Wood River Valley through Oct. 15.
Ketchum’s 11th Annual Oktoberfest will take place at Festival Meadows in Sun Valley on Sept. 15-16. Sawtooth Brewery puts on a two-day party that taps into Sun Valley’s Bavarian heritage with lots of folks singing out in German, “Eins, zwei, drei, g’suffa!” Festivities kick off on Friday as the mayor of Sun Valley, Peter Hendricks, taps the firkin and the beer starts flowing like the Big Wood River this summer. The party starts on Friday night and spills into most of Saturday. In addition to all the beer and food, there is loads of live music and games like stein holding and Hammerschlagen. Hotel Ketchum and the Tamarack Lodge are even offering discounts for folks who want to stay and play in the Beer Olympics and “get their German on, Idaho-style!”
Two fun events are combining to make one big awesome event when the Annual 5 Alarm Firefighters Chili Cook-Off joins in with Meet the Fleet at Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30. Fun for the whole family, the event will feature planes, trucks and special rigs of all kinds on display, coupled with live music, hotdogs from the Kiwanis Club and some of the best chili in the Northern Rockies. To enter your chili and help support the tasty cause, call (208) 788-3484.
The brave (and a bit masochistic) folks who love to hike will be taking part in the 45th Annual Baldy Hill Climb on Saturday, Sept. 30. This year the course will be run up the River Run side because of work being done on the usual route up the face of Warm Springs. There is no day-of-race registration and online signups close the Thursday night before the hike.
The 27th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival takes place Oct. 4-8. As usual, thousands of folks from all over America will come to the heart of Idaho to drink in our culture, history and lots of liquids at bars and restaurants throughout the Valley.
The Sun Valley Jazz Fest rolls through town from Oct. 18-22 and the 20th Annual Turkey Trot will kick off Thanksgiving again this year on Nov. 23.
You can find about these events and much more at ValleyChamber.org or by calling (208) 788-3484.