Festival hopes to make politics fun

SANDPOINT - Some people view politics as a tedious and inherently antagonistic endeavor, but organizers of Saturday's Fall Election Festival want to turn that perception on its ear by making politics fun, entertaining and informative.

The festival was put together by the Bonner County Democrats and will focus solely on Democratic candidates, but community members of every political stripe are welcome, said organizer Judy Meyers.

"We want a broad audience. We want Republicans to come and we want those independent Idaho voters who say they vote for the best person to come," Myers said. "This is not a really dyed-in-the wool Democratic party. We want it to be fun and inviting and we want it to be a community event."

The festival will feature music from Sandpoint's The Shook Twins, a food fair with a host of local chefs and booths for sign and button making, along with a "green booth" that will feature local organic farmers.

On the political side, local and statewide candidates will be in attendance to mingle with festival attendees and deliver short speeches about their political goals and beliefs. Organizers will also rally support from local Democrats to canvas neighborhoods, put up signs and register new voters before the Nov. 4 election.

Sure to stir the passions of a sizable portion of area residents, the festival will also host a screening of rabble-rousing documentarian Michael Moore's new film, "Slacker Uprising," which features part-time Bonner Country resident Viggo Mortensen.

The festival, which is free and open to the public, will take place Saturday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds from 5-8 p.m. Call Myers at 265-7251 or visit bonnerdemocrats.org for more information.