Happy Friday, everyone! It looks like maybe, just maybe, fall weather is here to stay. Glancing ahead at forecasts through the next week, I’m not seeing a single daily high warmer than 79, and quite a few days should bring temperatures that settle somewhere into the mid-70s. There’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms today and on Sunday, but otherwise we’re looking at a weekend forecast with mostly sunny conditions. Sounds wonderful.
Of course there’s plenty going on around the Flathead this weekend if you’re looking to pair the sunshine with something fun. The Whitefish Food & Wine Festival is well underway, and will continue through Sunday. Over at Legacy Bike Park in Lakeside, bike enthusiasts can attend the fourth annual Legacy Liftoff, which includes slopestyle and jump jam competitions, live music, a raffle, food, gear and bike vendors and a best trick throwdown. The Liftoff starts Friday at 6 p.m. and events will continue Saturday through 10 p.m.
If you can’t pass up on a good deal, the Whitefish Thrift Haus is having its end of summer sidewalk saleon Saturday to support Soroptimist International of Whitefish programming to educate and empower women and girls. The sale will feature clothes, shoes, sporting equipment and more. It starts at 11 a.m. at 303 E. First S. in Whitefish.
Also Saturday, a free Health and Wellness Fair is planned for the Flathead Fairgrounds Expo Building. Informational tables will be set up, and a variety of immunizations and screenings will be offered. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday evening, the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free outdoor movie at Marantette Park. This weekend’s movie is “Moana 2.” I’m sure there are plenty of local parents who wouldn’t mind catching this classic film for the 200th time this year!
One more weekend event worth noting is the Flathead Celtic Festival. The festival has been held annually since 2015, and it centers around a blend of traditional highland sports competitions, music, dancing, food and history. The two-day festival is located at Centennial Farm in west Kalispell, and kicks off Friday at 3 p.m. with bagpipes and the opening of the beer tent. Music and dance will follow, before festivities wind down at 7 p.m.
Saturday morning the festival opens up at 9 a.m. Highland athletics competition registration also opens with the festival’s Saturday morning start. Throughout the day competitions will take place, and musicians will take turns performing. There will also be children’s tug-of-war competitions, a parade of clans, crafts, and presentations on subjects like Irish language and hurling. Food and drink will also be sold at the festival. And of course, bagpipes will be played throughout the day!
If only this newsletter was also accompanied by bagpipes, too. I guess we’ll just have to use our imaginations! I’m Mike Kordenbrock, bringing you the Daily Roundup …
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