A Guide to all the Festivals in the Northwest and Sandpoint

Just because summer is quickly coming to a close does not mean you have to wrap up your travel plans. There are opportunities to enjoy all the Pacific Northwest has to offer well into the fall. Whether it is a weekend of football, music, food festivals or Oktoberfest celebrations, fun awaits, so make your plans today.

Festival at Sandpoint
August 2 -12, 2018
Sandpoint, Idaho

Enjoy eight nights of incredible entertainment featuring a variety of genres under the stars and overlooking the water in a breathtaking setting at War Memorial Field. In its 36th year, The Festival at Sandpoint has played host to incredible entertainers drawing people from all over the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the 4,000-seat capacity venue. Intimate in its setting, attendees can choose to bring in their own food and drink or enjoy some of the fabulous food and beverages provided onsite. This year’s lineup includes Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Amos Lee, ZZ Top, a Family Concert featuring The Festival Community Orchestra and activities for kids, Greensky Bluegrass, Sublime with Rome, Gavin Degraw + Phillip Phillips and the Spokane Symphony. FestivalAtSandpoint.com

Kirkland Summerfest
August 10 - 12, 2018
Kirkland, Washington

This three-day music and arts festival returns to the picturesque shores of Lake Washington for its seventh year offering the perfect environment for the artists, musicians and fans to enjoy an incredible summer weekend filled with music and art. During Summerfest, attendees will be treated to dozens of live performances, outdoor entertainment venues, delicious food, local beers and wines, street fair with more than 200 vendors, interactive activities, KidZone and more. Though the event is free for those wandering the streets, there are festival passes that get you into the main stage events and KidZone passes available for purchase. This is Kirkland’s signature event of the year with more than 35,000 attendees. Don’t miss out! KirklandSummerFest.com

Oregon State Fair
August 24 - September 3, 2018
Salem, Oregon

There’s nothing better than finishing off the summer than heading to the fair! From the carnival rides and fair food to the animal exhibits and musical acts, there’s nothing else like it. The Oregon State Fair offers the young and young at heart 10 days of enjoyment with their on-going features including Bug-Ology, Dog Town, Familyville, FFA, 4-H, Machine Mania, Nightly Finale, Oregon State Grange and more. Dia de la Familia is a fair highlight you won’t want to miss with its fabulous mariachi, Aztec dance troupe, children’s ballet, Latino rock, bingo, face painting, kids soccer camp, piñata breaking and much more! And this year’s Oregon State Fair attendees have the chance for free concert seating in the L.B. Day Amphitheatre, though you can purchase VIP concert tickets in advance. OregonStateFair.org

Musicfest NW Project Pabst
August 26 - 27, 2018
Portland, Oregon

Musicfest NW presents Project Pabst, a celebration of music, beer and all things local. With musical performances by Iggy Pop, Beck and more than a dozen other talented musical acts, this two-day festival is one you will not want to miss! Doors open at noon both days with the first act starting at 1pm and the music continuing all day and night until 10pm. Held at Portland’s beautiful Waterfront Park, Project Pabst is a 21 and older musical festival. Additional information on this year’s performers and to purchase tickets (single-day or a two-day pass) can be done online. ProjectPabst.com

Pig Out in the Park
August 29 - September 3, 2018
Spokane, Washington

Make plans this Labor Day weekend to visit Downtown Spokane and attend the 39th Annual Pig Out in the Park. Open daily from 11am to 10pm at Riverfront Park, Pig Out in the Park is host to 47 food booths encompassing 225 menu items, free concerts on three different stages featuring national, regional and local artists, and three adult beverage gardens from which to choose. From 3 to 5pm and 9 to10pm daily, enjoy $4 bites. Running from Wednesday through Monday, make it a long weekend and take in everything else Spokane has to offer. SpokanePigOut.com

Paul Bunyan Days
August 31 - September 3, 2018
St. Maries, Idaho

Small communities often go all out for their yearly festivals, and Paul Bunyan Days is a prime example. The town swells to more than double its roughly 2,500 residents for a weekend of family fun, events and fireworks. The event’s claim of having the ‘World’s Biggest Topless Bar’ might be off-putting to families, but it’s not what you think. ‘The Blue Ox’, as it’s called, is the massive beer garden located in the tennis and basketball courts. The fences are wrapped in blue tarps and there’s no roof, hence the name. There’s a full-scale carnival, children’s water competitions, nightly live music and dances, but everyone comes for the incredible fireworks display—a near 30-minute extravaganza that rivals anything you’ve seen in a major metropolitan area. Facebook.com/stmariesidahoPBD

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Montana Grizzlies Football
Saturday, September 1
Missoula, Montana

On many a fall Saturday, Washington-Grizzly Stadium becomes one of the biggest ‘towns’ in the state of less than a million residents. Fans of the Griz come from all over Big Sky country to pack the 25,000-plus seats. While you might not see some of the first-round caliber athletes of the Pac-12, you’ll still be surprised at the high level of competition at the FCS level. Tailgating before the game is as friendly as it comes with locals welcoming you in whether you’re in maroon and silver or not. Once inside you’ll be shocked at the noise helped by the stadium’s location along a canyon and butting up against Mount Sentinel as well as the front-row fans’ proximity to the players, which makes for a raucous and intimidating environment. GoGriz.com

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
September 13 - 16, 2018
Mt. Angel, Oregon

A celebration of the harvest—German style—2018 marks the 53rd annual Oktoberfest celebration in Mt. Angel, a community founded by German pioneers back in 1867. Mt. Angel’s Oktoberfest is one of the oldest and best loved community celebrations and enjoyed by everyone young and old. The four-day celebration attracts more than 300,000 people downtown each year, where you’ll find the Glockenspiel, the Die Früchtsäule (the Harvest Monument), the Maibaum (Tree of Trades), the Bandstand, Information Booth and all the delicious food booths! It truly offers a wonderful blend of family fun, live music on four stages, traditional dance, food and beer. Additional highlights include a pedal tractor race, sports activities, car show, arts and crafts and much more! Oktoberfest.org

Great Northwest Oktoberfest
September 28 & 29, October 7 & 8
Whitefish, Montana

The beer flows and German music fills the air at one of Montana’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations. Located in beautiful Downtown Whitefish, you’ll find all the longstanding Oktoberfest traditions as well as a few others like keg-throwing, stein-holding and brat-eating contests. Local brewery Great Northern brings out several special-occasion beers, and imports from Germany are also available for thirsty revelers. For an even more memorable trip, hop on Amtrak and be dropped off just blocks from the party. Chicken dancing, log sawing and Hammerschlagen will entertain the kids who can also enjoy apple strudel and German chocolate cookies. WhitefishOktoberfest.com

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival
October 5 - 7, 2018
Port Angeles, Washington

A celebration of aquaculture and one of the area’s finest treats, you’ll find mountains of Dungeness crab legs as well as other delicious delicacies from the sea at the 17th annual event. Fourteen different restaurants will be in attendance with a few celebrity chef appearances and cooking demonstrations as well. Local wine and beer is available, and there are even crab-to-go kits that include freshly cleaned Dungeness, a crab cracker, bib and wipes. At the festival, watch over the chowder cook-off or take part in the grab-a-crab derby. You’ll also experience art, music, Native-American activities and children’s events at this free three-day festival. CrabFestival.org

Leavenworth Oktoberfest
October 5 & 6, 12 & 13 and 19 & 20
Four venues in Leavenworth, Washington

Everyone is German during Oktoberfest, and there is no better place to celebrate than Leavenworth. A unique Bavarian-styled village nestled in the Cascade Mountains, it is the next best thing to Germany, especially during this festive celebration. With beer, live music and brats, the party is one you surely want on your bucket list. Hotels fill up quickly, but there is a shuttle service from Wenatchee for a small fee per person each way. It also runs throughout Downtown Leavenworth. With four different venues each offering continuous live entertainment, this is one party that cannot be missed! LeavenworthOktoberfest.com

Fall Release Weekend
November 2 - 4, 2018
Walla Walla, Washington

Calling all wine lovers! It may seem like it’s too early to talk about harvest season for the wineries, but this is a weekend you will definitely want to plan in advance. Fall Release Weekend in Walla Walla is the perfect chance to sample the newly released wines from the plethora of wineries located in the Walla Walla Valley. For those wanting to learn more about specific wines, the wine makers will be available to talk with patrons and answer any questions you may have. This three-day event also features wine maker dinners, live music and more. Plan your trip today and enjoy this beautiful area and all that it has to offer. WallaWallaWine.com/fall-tasting