Individual tickets, overnight packages and VIP upgrades give you many ways to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Coeur d’Alene Blues Festival
Question: would your love of the blues be enough to send you all over the Northwest?
Or would you rather hang out in Coeur d’Alene and let some of the region’s leading blues musicians come to you? If the answer is yes to Coeur d’Alene, then pencil in the 10TH ANNUAL BLUES FESTIVAL, March 29-31.
Instead of traveling to California to hear hard rockin’ Harlis Sweetwater, or to Oregon for the 2019 Blues Foundation Music Award Nominee Ben Rice Band, choose from nearly two dozen musical acts playing at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and surrounding venues all weekend.
Kick the weekend off with free entertainment Friday: Spokane’s own Sara Brown Brand in the Resort lobby and the Doghouse Boyz, followed by Pat Coast in Whispers Lounge.
Book now for the Friday night blues cruise ($25) and enjoy two bands, Coyote Kings with Tiphony Dames and Diego and the Detonators. Or motor to the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s convention center for a concert with local fave, NuJack City ($15). On Sherman Avenue, the party is at Taphouse Unchained with Randy Knowles and Bobby Patterson, who is also rockin’ the cruise boats on Saturday, March 30, with his band.
Saturday, head up to the resort’s rooftop for MasterClass Big Band, which pairs top student musicians with local music professionals to perform hits from contemporary artists, R&B and the Great American Songbook ($5). Robb Boatsman performs in Whispers Lounge (free), while Bobby Patterson revs up the crowd with an all-ages blues cruise ($11.50).
Or save your strength for Saturday’s main event: seven hours of continuous music by five bands, including the Fabulous Thunderbirds ($42.50).
And what are the blues if not a valley to gospel’s mountain? Voices 4 Praise Gospel Singers hit all the right notes during Sunday brunch at Dockside Restaurant (adults, $34.95; ages 55-and-up, $24.95; ages 5-12, $17.95; ages 4-and-under free). Or have brunch on the water for the final blues cruise ($60).
Can’t decide? The Resort’s stay-and-play package deals let you customize your blues experience for one night ($299-$359, includes two passes to Saturday’s main event) and two night stays ($480-$540, includes two all-access passes). Find out about the VIP deal and even more options at cdaresort.com/play/events/blues-festival.
Special Events
Spring Carnival
MARCH 30
What’s better than spring skiing? Spring skiing and a carnival featuring a hilarious pond skim, toboggan relay, live music and a barbecue. The relay starts at 1:15 pm (costumes encouraged) and the pond skim at 2 pm at Silver Mountain. Go to visitcda.org for registration information and more details.
Delia Owens
MARCH 29
Bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens is the featured speaker at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Foundation’s benefit event. Tickets $30; 7 pm; Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. 208-769-2315
Food & Wine Festival
APRIL 12-14
The foodie event of the year is back, and even better now that the Food and Wine Festival is working in partnership with the Downtown Association’s Wine Extravaganza to deliver a weekend packed with wine tastings, seminars, intimate luncheons with carefully curated pairings and unforgettable chef and winemaker’s dinners. Go to VisitCDA.org for the full schedule of events
