Got an itch to head westward as summer winds down in Greater Idaho Falls? Here’s what’s happening across the high desert in Hailey this autumn…
Hailey Antique Market - September 2-4
Nothing is more fun than browsing for unique treasures at a well-curated antique show, and the Labor Day weekend Hailey Antique Fair will have some of the best antique vendors and wares in the region. Held at Roberta McKercher Park in Hailey. Hours: 9am-6pm on Friday and Saturday; 9am-4pm on Sunday.
Monster Truck Insanity Tour – September 8-9
The new Monster Truck Insanity Tour, produced by Live A Little Productions of Rigby, Idaho, will be coming to the Hailey Rodeo Arena, for two huge events on September 9th and 10th. The tour includes four of the nation’s biggest and baddest monster trucks, along with the insane Live A Little Freestyle Motocross Insanity Team, crazy side by side tough truck and UTV races for locals, and one of the biggest monster ride trucks on Earth. The Monster Truck Insanity Tour promises a great show and an exciting weekend of motorsports competition and entertainment in Hailey. The event begins at 7:30pm both nights, with a special 6:00pm Pit Party offered on Saturday night only. Advance tickets are $16 for adults, and $8 for kids ages 3-12 and can be purchased at Atkinsons’ Markets in Hailey, Bellevue, and Ketchum, or online at www.livealittleproductions.com. Tickets are also available at the gate for $20 adults and $10 for kids.
Wood River Valley HarvestFest – September 17
Celebrate the harvest season with an evening of mouthwatering local foods on September 17. Top chefs from ten of Hailey’s best restaurants will dish up small plates of locally grown everything, along with wine and beer, so you can sip and savor your way through town. The HarvestFest starts and ends at the Wood River Sustainability Center and runs from 3pm - 10pm. Events include Local Food Fair from 3pm-5pm, followed by Restaurant Walk from 5pm-7pm, and ending with a River Street Party with dessert and live music by the Kim Stocking Band from 7pm-10pm. Ticket are $35 for adults (21+), $15 for young adults (13-21), $5 for kids (5-12); and $75 for families with up to 4 kids under age 18. Kids under 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased at Wood River Sustainability Center in Hailey or online at www.woodrivervalleyharvestfest.org. All proceeds benefit the Local Food Alliance.
Trailing of the Sheep Festival – October 5-9
It’s wild, woolly and wonderfully authentic. It’s the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, celebrating its 20th year, October 5th – 9th, 2016, in the picturesque Wood River Valley of Idaho. Each fall, the popular Trailing of the Sheep Festival celebrates the 150+ year tradition of moving sheep (‘trailing’) from high mountain summer pastures down through the valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas in the south. This annual migration is Idaho living history and a weekend long family-friendly festival that highlights the people, arts, cultures and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the West.
The Trailing of the Sheep Festival has garnered its share of top accolades including being recognized as one of the Top Ten Fall Festivals in the World by msn.com travel, Top Ten US Fall Festivals by smartertravel.com, Top Animal Festivals in the World and Top Ten Fall Festivals by USA Today, America’s Wackiest Fall Festivals by Huffington Post, One of the Greatest Cultural Events in the West by Northwest Travel, Best Festival by readers of Sun Valley Guide and recipient of the Idaho Governor’s Award for Cultural Heritage. Get an event schedule at www.trailingofthesheep.org
Crosstoberfest – October 14-15
It’s a match made in heaven: bicycle racing meets beer, they fall in love and decide to throw a party. Combining two days of cyclocross races with a craft beer festival, Crosstoberfest, will be celebrating its 13th year this October 14-15. Cyclocross events traditionally take place in the autumn and consist of short races (usually lasting less than an hour) where the competitors make laps on short tracks (usually less than two miles long) that contain challenging terrain, which varies from dirt to pavement to grass, and includes obstacles that occasionally force riders to dismount and carry their bikes. This fun twist on traditional bicycle racing has its roots in places like Belgium and The Netherlands, so it’s only fitting that handcrafted beer would get wedded into things. For event details, check out crosstoberfestidaho.com.
Source: City of Hailey Chamber of Commerce