Sandpoint, ID

So. You don’t particularly relish the idea of wandering from booth to booth, peering at lampwork beads, hand-carved stone, high-quality photography, watercolors, textiles, wood and ceramic art, or forged ironwork. And you’re not a fan of strolling in the park while your mate browses for finely-crafted items that can be found in this one place only once each year. You’d rather spend a perfect summer day at home…mowing the lawn, perhaps.

Well, then. Consider joining the folks who have paused in their shopping to enjoy a sitar concert, or some contemporary jazz, or maybe a bit of bluegrass. Watch a group of children as they learn to juggle; exhort a pair of epee-wielding fencers; marvel at the balance and grace of a stilt dancer. Have some caramel corn, grab a sandwich, wolf down a chunk of salmon. Meditate over a snow cone.

Observe as 50,000 other people—those who understand what 40 years of Art on the Green are all about—enjoy themselves.

One of Coeur d’ Alene’s summer high points, Art on the Green is more than a venue for some 140 artists and craftspeople to exhibit and sell their work; it is a social event, a gathering, a conclave of friendship and sharing.
Tonya, Nichole and I roamed across the grounds of North Idaho College, wandering into those booths that caught our attention. We talked with the vendors and collected their business cards (we saw several items we wanted to purchase, but—as usual—they were too heavy or bulky to carry to the car). We watched other patrons carry off the items they’d purchased. We even renewed acquaintances we’d made at other art shows in Spokane, Washington, and Yachats, Oregon.
We unwound. When we needed a brief break from the crowd, we found our way to the nearby lakeshore, where kayaks skidded along the surface. A few sunbathers were anchored to the sand; off in the distance, a parasailer cut lazy circles in the sky.
By the time we returned to the car, we had once again agreed that Art on the Green is one of the premier arts and crafts events in the northwest.

Art on the Green is held on the old Fort Sherman Grounds at North Idaho College. Admission is free, restrooms are provided, and a shuttle is available from downtown to the west side of the NIC campus. Downtown Coeur d’ Alene is a short walk away, as is Lake Coeur d’ Alene and the Spokane River. If you don’t bring enough cash (you’ll find lots of things you’ll want to buy), most vendors accept credit cards.