Libby hosting harvest festival

Next weekend, Libby will be the center of entertainment and activities in the Inland Northwest.

The biggest weekend of Libby’s year — Sept. 13-15 — will feature the Kootenai Country chainsaw carving championship, the Libby Nordicfest, NW Kootenai Valley Fiber Festival and the fifth annual Kootenai Harvest Festival. The festival, noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, will be right in the middle.

Vendors selling fresh vegetables, handmade crafts and other harvest goods will be on hand, as well as live music, raffles, beer from Cabinet Mountain Brewery and a German-style meal from the bounty of the local harvest provided by the Gracious Table. In addition, the local Kiwanis Club will provide the Kid Zone.

The Festival began five years ago under the auspices of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness and Montana Wilderness Association, and has grown mightily since. 600-plus people enjoyed the grassy riverside venue and all the offerings of the event last year. FSPW is the main sponsor this year, with cosponsors Cabinet Mountain Brewery, Gracious Table, Kootenai Country Montana, The Kiwanis Club of Libby, Libby Community Garden, The Montanian, MWA and The Western News.