Here's what's happening in September

2 Support Teachers & Students. Join and line sidewalks across from schools with signs: Everyone is Welcome Here, to support teachers and students on their first day of school. Organized by Sandpoint Indivisible. Get details and register here. 7:15 a.m.

3 Reg. Deadline: Exploring Acrylics with Dan Carpenter. Join in while Dan teaches all levels of acrylic painting. Classes will be held September 9-11 from 6-9 p.m. $108. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

4 Priest River Watershed Group Meeting. Join this monthly steering committee meeting at the Priest River Library, 118 Main St. from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Review the recent East River Assessment and discuss a project-ranking matrix for restoration and enhancement. This is a chance to learn more about the basin.

4 Memory Boot Camp. Learn practical tools to keep your brain sharp at “Dental Floss for Your Brain,” a free talk with Dr. Harvey Eckhart, visiting from Hawaii. Discover proven ways to boost memory, speed processing, and cognitive retention through nutrition, music, laughter, and exercise. The event takes place Thursday, Sept. 4, from 6–7:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library Community Rooms, 1407 Cedar St. Get more information here.

4 Fall Hike to Star Peak Lookout. Head to the historic lookout atop Star Peak and see some beautiful fall colors and scenery along the way. This hike is 10 miles round trip with an elevation gain of about 4,000 feet. Get more info at ScotchmanPeaks.org/hikes-events-schedule/.

4 Reg. Deadline: Watercolor Essentials with Susan Gallo. Controlling, Line, Wash, and color will all be touched in this immersive class with Susan Gallo. Class will be held on September 10 from 9 a.m. to noon. $36. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

6 Friends of the Library Book Sale. The Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St., hosts this monthly event on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby. Support your library, and your book reading habit.

6 Spar Peak Fall Hike. Come along and get a sneak peak at fall colors while enjoying the end of summer on Spar Peak! Often still thick with huckleberries, this 3,000 feet elevation gain hike has a lot of "up" with amazing views as your reward. Get more info at ScotchmanPeaks.org/hikes-events-schedule/.

6 Reg. Deadline: Kimekomi with Jenni Barry. Kimekomi is a Japanese art form where fabric pieces are tucked into a base. Class will be held on September 12 from 1-5 p.m. $48. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

9 Reg. Deadline: Art Talk #6 with Alison Barrows Young. POAC is proud to present a series of six 90-minute evening art talks that will be offered this summer. These lectures won't be typical. The presenter, Alison Barrows-Young, will dive into diverse topics, from art history and movements to culture, civilization, and the identity of artists. Class will be held on September 12 from 6-7:30 p.m. $18. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

10 Reg. Deadline: Abstract Painting with Alison Barrows Young. A painting is abstract if it doesn't attempt to accurately depict the real world, but instead uses shapes, colors, forms, gesture, and texture. Classes will be held September 23, 30, and October 7 from 1-4 p.m. $108. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

11 BOCC Workshop. Meeting will be held at 1500 Hwy 2, Ste. 208 at 1:30 p.m. Details such as agenda, minutes, and video link for the meeting - along with other meetings, can be found at bonnercountyid.gov.meetings.

11 Fall Mushroom Class. Join in the Community Rooms of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. at 4:30 p.m. for a class led by Idaho Master Naturalist, Ed Buzbee on fall mushrooms of North Idaho. This classroom session will cover: easy go-to guidelines to stay safe, familiarity with the edibles, and the best ways to prepare local mushrooms. Get more info here.

11 Reg. Deadline: Watercolor Essentials with Susan Gallo. The Key to blending watercolors is through the process of dropping color into a wet substrate to produce a variety of soft values and hues.  This harmonious soup creates a dramatic backdrop for the subject in the painting. All levels of experience are welcome. Project will be 'butterfly in marshes' and will be held on September 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. $36. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

13 2025 Bonner County Gardeners Association's Fall Plant Sale. Check it out in the parking lot of the Ponderay Events Center, 48 Eastgate Dr. in Ponderay from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. See more on Facebook.

13 Napoleon Gulch Trail Project. Join in on a trail project where you can break a sweat, meet new friends, and give back to our wild backyard. You'll help to clear downed trees, repair tread, remove water bars, and reduce user-created shortcuts on the trail. Get more info at ScotchmanPeaks.org/hikes-events-schedule/.

16 Bonner County Planning Commission. Join at 1500 Hwy 2, Ste. 208 at 4:30p.m. Details such as the agenda, minutes, and a video link, along with other meetings can be found at bonnercountyid.gov/meetings.

16 Reg. Deadline: Gelli Plate Printmaking with Alison Barrows Young. Next time creativity calls, pack your new favorite art medium: a gelli plate, a squishy gel surface that serves as a printing plate, allowing anyone who values immediacy to create remarkable monoprints. Classes will be held September 22, 29, and October 6 from 1-4 p.m. $108. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

17 BCGA Horticulture Series: Mushrooms. Classes are held Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the BCGA classroom upstairs in the Ponderay Event Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. Cost is $10 per class. Learn the basics of mushrooms in North Idaho from safety to harvesting. Register or learn more at bcgardeners.org.

18 Reg. Deadline: Watercolor Essentials with Susan Gallo. What makes a subject jump out is by applying color around it to create depth.  The negative space becomes just as important as the positive space in that it creates the drama and variety of values that lets the focal point shine. All levels of experience are welcome. Project will be 'A stand of trees' and class will be held on September 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. $36. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

20 Fall Seed Saving. Learn the ancient art of seed saving in a hands-on workshop with Diane Green of Greentree Naturals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Sandpoint Library Garden, 1407 Cedar St. Discover when seeds are ready to harvest, how to maintain plant vigor, simple cleaning and storage techniques, and ways to overwinter biennial crops. Participants will also take home seeds harvested during the class. Get more info at ebonnerlibrary.org/events.

20 Creative Meal Prep Without Milk or Eggs. Join the Ladies Homestead Gathering at New Song Bible Church, 270250 US-05 in Sagle from 1-3 p.m. where an alternative cooking expert will guide you through a variety of economical skills in the kitchen. Topics covered will range from nut milks to non-dairy cheeses, as well as how to incorporate food scraps into recipes to reduce waste. Stay after the gathering for a free make an take where you will make a water-resistant match storage survival straw. Open to ladies 16+ and nursing babies under 1. nhlg.org.

24 BCGA Horticulture Series: JADAM. Classes are held Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the BCGA classroom upstairs in the Ponderay Event Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. JADAM technology is a collection of simple agricultural techniques and inputs: designed to provide you with affordable alternatives to traditional farming inputs. Cost is $10 per class. Register or learn more at bcgardeners.org.

25 Reg. Deadline: Watercolor Essentials with Susan Gallo. A watercolor painting can become boring if all it shows is a variety of flat washes.  Textural effects can energize a painting by applying some characteristic marks, dabs, blots splats, and scrapes to add interest and excitement. All levels of experience are welcome. Project will be 'Wilderness vignette'. Class will be held October 1 from 9 a.m. to noon. $36. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

25 Reg. Deadline: Macrame Plant Hanger with Sadey Vogel. In this class students will learn a fundamental wire wrap technique to make a pair of dangle earrings, a pendant and a zipper pull.  They will explore design, color, and balance with a wide assortment of beads and semi-precious gemstones. Class will be held on October 1 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. $36. Learn more or register at ArtInSandpoint.org/jds-student.

**Leadership Sandpoint Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Class Project. All applications must be submitted by November 1, 2025 to be considered. Local non-profits are welcome to apply. Eligible non-profits must propose a project that can be scaled for completion, or partially completed, within the program's timeframe. Up to five organizations will be invited to present their proposals in a 20-minute presentation on November 19, 2025. Learn more and apply here.

And in October...

1 BCGA Horticulture Series: Indoor Gardening for a Winter Harvest. Classes are held Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the BCGA classroom upstairs in the Ponderay Event Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. As temperatures dip and the days shorten, winter is imminent and gardening is put on the back burner. Why not try winter gardening indoors? Cost is $10 per class. Register or learn more at bcgardeners.org.

8 BCGA Horticulture Series: Soil, the Foundation to Your Garden. Classes are held Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the BCGA classroom upstairs in the Ponderay Event Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. Growing a beautiful, healthy garden starts from the ground up. The secret is in the soil. Cost is $10 per class. Register or learn more at bcgardeners.org.

11 Vital Conversation Series Registration. Join in at the Marigold Bistro, 414 Church St., from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Vital Conversation Series with host, Dr. Jennifer Steinbachs of Syringa Wellness plus 12 wise women speakers from around Sandpoint.$125 early bird pricing through Aug. 31. Online pricing Sept. 1 through Oct. 6 is $150 or pay $175 at the door. Get more details at SyringaWellness.com/vcs.