COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A new festival rolled into North Idaho this weekend, showcasing handmade crafts while teaching guests how to create items themselves.
The Grow and Gather Festival opened at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, where visitors can find everything from candles to garden starting kits and freshly wound textiles. The event combines shopping with hands-on learning experiences led by local vendors.
“It’s just a combination of artists and vendors and people who share their information all coming together to share with the community and teach the community,” said Abby Henning, festival organizer.
The festival offers interactive demonstrations throughout the weekend. Attendees can learn to spin wool, plant gardens, create pottery, and paint decorative pots.
“We’ve got someone showing how to do pottery and someone showing how to make wool and someone painting and planting pots. We’ve got all different types of demonstrations by all different types of cool people,” Henning said.
Vendors at the festival serve a purpose beyond showcasing their small businesses. They aim to help people disconnect from daily stress and reconnect with their community through hands-on activities.
“I think that getting kids off of technology a little bit is a huge thing. Art is a great ‘de-winder’ if that’s the right way to put it, so it’s just a positive thing for everybody,” said Branigan Carhart, a vendor.
The event emphasizes community building. Organizers designed the festival as a space where people can come together around shared creative interests.
“There are no political views at a market. People just come together, they make cool stuff. If we can just build our community one event at a time, we’ll be in a really great space,” Henning said.
The Grow and Gather Festival continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d’Alene.
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