Explore great local eats at the Festival at Sandpoint

A loaded baked potato from You Say Potato

A margherita pizza from Panhandle Pizza Kitchen

A hummus plate from OPA! Greek Food | Photos courtesy of the Festival at Sandpoint, photographer Rachael Baker

Story by S. Michal Bennett

Since 1983, the Festival at Sandpoint has been bringing excellent music immersed in an intimate, natural setting to North Idaho. The music, bands and musicians get a lot of recognition, but one of the crucial elements to a successful Festival, year after year, is the handful of local vendors who serve food and drinks on Festival Street. 

Rather than bring in concession-style booths, like a typical “festival style” concert venue, the Festival welcomes local vendors with seasonal or year-round locations to come, set up and serve a taste of Sandpoint to concertgoers. 

“Our Festival Street vendors are an excellent representation of Sandpoint’s dining scene,” said Caroline Hawkins, operations and marketing manager for the Festival. “There is always something for everyone, and each vendor creates incredible items that are unique, tasty and memorable.” 

Nestled on the banks of the pristine Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint has a well-rounded culinary culture, from bakeries, breweries and food trucks to Mexican food, pizza, BBQ, pub fare, sushi and fine dining. 

The town and the surrounding areas also offer a variety of dining experiences, whether it’s sitting on a deck overlooking the lake, enjoying bites and sips while waiting for a concert at Memorial Field, ordering handhelds from a food truck or adventuring to a hidden location for a delicious meal. It’s a foodie destination that is set not only in the heart of breathtaking natural beauty, but also a widespread agricultural community, which is reflected in its food scene.

This diversity with a local foundation is obvious in the vendor lineup and menus each year. 

“Vendors often mix local favorites with new menu items for the event,” Hawkins said. “Concertgoers are able to try new items from their favorite restaurants, visitors are able to enjoy a taste of Sandpoint, and vendors have the ability to showcase incredible foods while listening to live music during busy summertime schedules.” 

Vendors stir kettle corn (left) and prep burgers (right)

Photos courtesy of the Festival at Sandpoint, photographer Maddie Albertson, Yellow Goat Studio

Rick Evans of longtime vendor Evans Brothers Coffee said his team is not only grateful for the opportunity to experience parts of Festival shows, but they also enjoy being right in the middle of such a lively community event that connects them to friends, customers and visitors. 

“We just want to say that we appreciate the people who stepped up these past few years and kept this Festival going as part of this community,” Evans said.

And from the Festival, Caroline expressed gratitude as well: “The Festival at Sandpoint truly appreciates all the work our vendors take on during peak tourism season. It is amazing to see so many individuals come together and create the special environment of Festival Street.” 

This year’s Festival Street lineup:

• The 10-Year Festival Vendor Pros: Evans Brothers Coffee 

• Sandpoint Local but Expanding into CDA: The Burger Dock 

• Gluten-Free Options, Meal Planning and Catering: The Cajun Kettle

• Food Trailer, Smoked Low and Slow in North Idaho: Felker’s Northern Smoke BBQ

• Pop-Up Wood-Fired Neapolitan Pizza Shop: Panhandle Pizza Kitchen

• Greek Food with Gluten-Free, Veg and Vegan Options: OPA! Food Truck 

• All the Spuds, Dogs and Chili: You Say Potato