Annual party celebrates neighbors, community

SANDPOINT — Community.

It is, after all, what lies at the heart of Winter Ridge Natural Food's annual Neighborhood Fair.

The day is a chance for the store to thank its customers and the community for their ongoing support over the years with a "magical day" of live music, samples, food, demonstrations and more, store officials said.

"This has been a lot of fun," said Sophia Sperry on her first official day as a Winter Ridge employee. "It's a little stressful, but I've been having a lot of fun. Everyone's been super great, and everyone is enjoying themselves."

Like Sperry, volunteer Daisey Bennett said being a part of the fair and the community spirit it creates is a lot of fun.

"It's amazing," said Bennett, whose older sister works at Winter Ridge. "It's nice to be able to help out, help other people, and be able to provide them with stuff."

In between handing out samples, Bennett said seeing people having fun, smiling, and enjoying each other's company has been the best part of the day.

"Just seeing people getting along, being able to be in this space and try different things," she added.

As music from Harold's IGA and Miah Kohal bands filled the air, people gathered on hay bales or sat at nearby tables, dancing or bopping their heads in time to the music.

Vendors, many of them local, longtime customers, local organizations and community residents gathered to celebrate community at the event.

Taking part in the neighborhood block party was never in question, Julie Breuer and her daughter, Gracie, said. The pair behind Sandpoint Chocolate said the Sandpoint grocery store welcomed their locally made chocolates into the store, something that can be hard for a small local business to accomplish. Being a part of the fair gives the small, handcrafted chocolate company a chance to both thank the store by adding to the fun but also showcase their product in another way.

With fun additions to their chocolates like animal crackers, pretzels and caramel and a host of other fun options, the Breuers love being able to share what they do and see residents enjoy their product firsthand.

"This is just so much fun," Julie Breuer said of being at the neighborhood fair as she and her daughter were kept busy restocking a tray filled with samples. 

"I love just seeing our neighbors," she said. "It really does feel like a neighborhood party, seeing all of our friends and, literally, our neighbors here. It's just great to be part of the community."

Being a part of the celebration is so much fun, Winter Ridge employees said as they kept busy handing out samples of gluten-free brownies, baked potatoes, and other treats found in the store's deli. Others handed out samples of different products available for sale, from snacks to coffee alternatives.

"People are just so grateful and so happy to be here," said one worker, adding the event was so much fun to be a part of. "Everyone is just smiling."

They love being a part of the community and being able to host the annual fair gives them a chance to thank the community for all its support, Winter Ridge employees said. It also gives them a chance to celebrate the store's many local vendors  and suppliers, from its eggs to its honey and a large number of other items.

Marcy Timblin, director of communications at Kaniksu Land Trust, couldn't help but smile as she looked out over the bustling area set aside for the neighborhood fair.

"I love seeing everyone in the community here having fun," Timblin said in between helping people who stopped by the KLT booth and answering questions. "A surprising number of people who aren't from here, and they're just driving by and they see all these people here, and there's this huge party, so they stop in. It's just so fun to get to be here."

She loves that Winter Ridge puts on the event, giving the community a chance to visit and enjoy each other's company, connecting with each other, and having fun.

"People are here to have fun and enjoy the community nature (of the celebration)," she added.

    Gracie and Julie Breuer hand out samples of their handcrafted chocolate at Saturday's Neighborhood Fair at Winter Ridge Natural Foods.
  

    Marcy Timblin, director of communications for Kaniksu Land Trust, right, takes to a resident who stopped by the land trust's booth at Saturday's Neighborhood Fair at Winter Ridge Natural Foods.
  

    Area residents walk through Saturday's Neighborhood Fair at Winter Ridge Natural Foods.