This time of the year, the little town of Stanley turns into a summer haven. One of its main attractions is the Sawtooth Music Festival. The all-day festival will take place Saturday, July 25, in Stanley's Pioneer Park. Gates open at 11:15 a.m. and camping is permitted. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and $20 for seniors, with a $10 fee to camp. Kids under 12 are free.
The festival started four years ago, and proceeds benefit various local organizations. This year money will be given to the Stanley Library's building fund.
The line-up for the festival will include Boise's rocking trio Low-Fi, Jenny Owens Young, Elephant Revival and Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. Another festival favorite making another visit will be Free Peoples, from San Francisco. Other bands will be Hillfolk Noir, Trevor Green, Matti Sand and the Portland Cello Project.
"The first year we had the festival we had 350 people and then the following year it grew to 1,400 people," said festival organizer Nicole Johnson. "This year we expect 2,000 people. It keeps growing and it's great because we are still a small festival."
Johnson said she is excited about the Portland Cello Project because the band does a great deal of back-up for other artists. It will have its own set and will also play with Thao with the Get Down Stay Down.
Musicians beg to come back to Stanley's majestic Sawtooth Mountains partly because the festival organizers give all the musicians and the many volunteers a free river trip donated by White Cloud Adventures.
"This year we will have a fire show right before the headline band," Johnson said. "We make as much of a festival experience as we can."
The festival will have several vendors as well as food and beverage stands. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Tickets are available at Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum and online at sawtoothmusicfestival.com.
The Sawtooth Music Festival will take place on Saturday, July 25. Proceeds will benefit the Stanley Library building fund.
