Salsa Festival Saturday in downtown Bonners Ferry
Salsa chef Kevin Callos hopes to defend his title with “Karate Salsa with a Kick” during the Second Annual Salsa Festival 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3.
The Karate Salsa will be similar to the winning salsa he entered last year, but a little hotter.
“It was fun last year and I love making salsa,” said Callos, who learned to make salsa from his mother-in-law.
There are 15 salsa entrees and six vendors expected for this year’s festival at Georgia Mae Park on Main Street. It is sponsored by Friends of Downtown.
All salsa contestants will be lined up at tables for public tasting. Judges will include Bonners Ferry Police Chief Dave Kramer, Bonners Ferry firefighter John Youngwirth, editor of Rural Northwest Jay Cohn, former Boundary County Sheriff Bruce Whittaker and Panhandle State Bank Manager Dave Walter.
The band, Alliance, will play for the event.
“I am so excited, I get calls every day and ‘thank you’ from people, saying this is a great event,” said organizer Carolyn Testa. “People are very excited about the band. I hear they are good.”
The downtown streets will feature artists’ tables, face painting, authentic tamales for sale, vendors and organizations, musicians and singers, an antique fire truck for the kids to inspect and clowns. The day will include performances by Wild Mountain Thyme, Selkirk Singers, The Alberstons, and disc jockey music by Jo Jo Baker, and a raffle basket with prizes and gift certificates from merchants.
“It is a generous thing that the merchants have done,” said Testa.
“Last year’s event drew over 200 people and a dozen salsa contestants,” said Dolly Boling, manager of The Dollar Depot and More and a member of Friends of Downtwon. “This year, partnering with the chamber of commerce and the Horizons Project, we’re expecting a significantly larger event with more salsa entries, street entertainment and vendors.”
“I look forward to having a lot of people this year,” said Callos. “I hope we have good weather and a great turnout.”