Bluegrass festival a hit for Community Center

Out with the lederhosen and Bavarian hats, in with the blue jeans, belt buckles and boots.

In an effort to boost attendance at its annual fundraiser, the Whitefish Community Center axed its long-running Oktoberfest celebration in favor of the Summer Solstice Bluegrass Bash held Saturday at Kay Beller Park. With the Whitefish River as the backdrop, picnic blankets were spread across the lawn and dozens of tables were filled with foot-stomping concert-goers.

Event organizer Jody Fee was thrilled with the inaugural event’s turn-out and the perfect weather. She estimates nearly 250 people attended.

“It was a huge success,” Fee said. “We hope it will be an annual event and continue to grow.”

Fee said the Oktoberfest fundraiser had become stale in recent years and that it was sometimes confused with the Whitefish Chamber’s Great Northwest Oktoberfest that is held over two weekends.

The summer solstice presented a rare opening in Whitefish’s busy events calendar, Fee said, which helped bring out the crowds for the family-friendly event.

All proceeds benefited the Whitefish Community Center.