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When Treasure Valley residents need to make a brief escape, there’s a hinterland hideaway where mountains, forests and lakes seem a world apart from the daily runaround. It’s a place where outdoor recreation and small-town charm go hand-in-hand with open air concerts and fine dining. Better yet, it’s less than a two-hour drive from Boise. McCall has always been the mini-break of choice for many across the region, making it a popular destination for all sorts of adventures. We at Boise Weekly love it so much that we decided to dedicate the following pages to summer in McCall. Whether you’re looking to cruise some epic singletrack or if your idea of cruising comes more in the form of stroll through downtown, we’ve got you covered. Check out our full calendar of events to find even more excuses to head to the Long Valley—as if you really needed any more. —Deanna Darr
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What do you do with a ski hill in the summer? Ditch the skis and boards for wheels.
Mountain Riding McCall’s growing mountain biking system Andrew Crisp Winter’s end once meant the end of ski season—and a dormant ski hill—forcing recreationists to eagerly await the next dusting of snow. Now, lift-served mountain biking not only means ski areas can fill their off-seasons, but mountain bikers have easy access to more singletrack. Only a few hours outside of Boise, McCall offers more mountain biking than its famous snow flurries and ski lodges might suggest. Serving the small mountain town is the Central Idaho Mountain Biking Association, CIMBA, which boasts 80 members, according to President Brett Shepherd. “Overall, the mountain biking scene in McCall is still strong, despite people leaving the area and the economic struggles we’ve had in this area. And I think it has a lot it can do to bring visitors to the area with the trails that we do have,” he said. “We have a strong set of trails up here for people to enjoy.” Founded in 1997, CIMBA offers education for new riders and spearheads trail building across the McCall area. In 2012, CIMBA hosted seven trail days, comprising an estimated 373 volunteer hours. “We’re fortunate with the Forest Service and just the people up here. There are some professional trail builders that kinda guide folks like me—who have never built a trail before—on what to do and how,” said Shepherd. Shepherd also works as IT director at Tamarack Resort—which plans to run its lifts, servicing 30 miles of trails, for special events during this summer’s mountain biking season. Nearby, Brundage offers its mountain’s 7,640-foot summit as a picturesque starting point for more than 20 miles of singletrack trails, crisscrossing the hillside. According to resort spokeswoman April Russell, Brundage’s easiest downhill track, Elk Trail, offers seven miles from summit to base. www. b oiseweekly.c o m
“The trick is, if you’ve never ridden a bike off a bike path, you probably won’t find it to be a beginner trail,” said Russell. “But if you ride a bike up in the [Boise] Foothills, do it, for sure.” After reaching bottom, hoist your bike and your duff onto the Blue Bird quad for a speedy trip back to the summit—and the start of round two. What’s more, Boise-area mountain bikers can make the quick jog to Valley County, spend the day cruising from hilltop to base, and be back in time for supper. Fred Maupin, whose many jobs at Brundage include managing mountain bike operations, spends much of his summer doing the same. He said he’s often in the bike saddle after the mountain opens for the summer. “I usually ride every day that we’re operating,” said Maupin. This year’s season opens Friday, June 28— with free chairlift access offered during opening day celebrations—through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. “This year we’re looking to have the whole mountain open, easily, with the quick snowmelt we’ve had; unlike two years ago when we opened and it was two weeks before we had trails to ride,” said Maupin. Much like the mountain’s ski trails, beginner routes are marked as green on the trail map, more difficult trails as blue and the most advanced trails, with switchbacks and features for advanced riders, stand out as black lines. Maupin describes Hidden Valley and Zorro as downhill race courses, but other trails provide more cross-country riding. “Grouse Trail, Growler and Black Bear Loop, are all more cross-countrytype trails. They reach out a little bit further around the mountain, especially Black Bear Loop. That’s probably our most cross-
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idahodown Music Festival
10 a.m.-4 p.m. McCall College, 106 E. Park St., McCall, mccallcollege.org
9 p.m.-2 a.m. McCall Yacht Club, 203 E. Lake St., McCall, yachtclubmccall.com
Yacht cluB annual luau partY
Grab fresh fruits, veggies and assorted sundries from area farmers every Saturday through September.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pine and Lenora streets
Mccall FarMer’s Market
Check out prized cars at the nonprofit college.
Friday, July 26
Mccall colleGe Motor Madness car show
All day Brundage Mountain Resort, McCall,
idahodown Music Festival
Saturday, July 27
Grab your tent and settle in for two full days of music, art, mountain biking and camping. Friday’s lineup includes Free Peoples, Scott Pemberton Trio, New Transit, Voice of Reason and The Mostest. Tickets cost between $35-$50 and include camping.
All day Brundage Mountain Resort, McCall, idahodownfestival.com
World and Rock Night at the festival includes performances by Trevor Green, Grant Farm and the B*Side Players. See Thursday, July 18.
6 p.m.-11 p.m. Historic Roseberry, one mile east of Donnelly, thesummermusicfestival.com
the suMMer Music Festival at roseBerrY
Saturday, July 20
Check out String Night at the festival, including performances by Cahalen Morrison and Eli West, HotWire and Skip Gorman. See Thursday, July 18.
6 p.m.-11 p.m. Historic Roseberry, one mile east of Donnelly, thesummermusicfestival.com
the suMMer Music Festival at roseBerrY
Friday, July 19
For more than 30 years, this family friendly festival has brought music to the mountains with three full days of music at the historic townsite. The event kicks off with Locals Night. Individual tickets cost $15-$25, three-day passes cost $50-$55.
Join the McCall Arts Council for the 15th annual children’s art festival. The event is free to all and includes woodworking, clay molding, painting, Japanese gyotaku printmaking, paper flower making, beaded jewelry and more hands-on arts. Check out live music and a cardboard castle as well.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Central Idaho Historical Museum, Highway 55 and State Street, McCall, mccallarts.org
kaleidoscope
Saturday, June 29
BrundaGe Mountain suMMer chairliFt Grand openinG - see pullout
Join group rides which depart from Gravity Sports every Friday. The treks include two ability levels, but riders are asked to bring food, water and gear to fix a flat.
5 p.m.-7 p.m. Gravity Sports, 503 Pine St., McCall, gravitysportsidaho.com
Group road ride
Friday, June 28
Grab fresh fruits, veggies and assorted sundries from area farmers every Wednesday through September.
6 p.m.-11 p.m. Historic Roseberry, one mile east of Donnelly, thesummermusicfestival.com
the suMMer Music Festival at roseBerrY
Mccall FarMer’s Market
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pine and Lenora streets
Thursday, July 18
Wednesday, June 26
Live music gets going at 1 p.m. in the park. Boise band Ophelia will join Mary Cutrufello
For adult fun, head to the park’s beer garden, which opens at the same time. Local vendors and nonprofits will also be set up on Lake Street to talk to visitors throughout the day.
Things get going at 11 a.m. in Depot Park—next to Hotel McCall—where the Kids’ Corral opens with bounce houses, water slides, games and crafts. There is a charge for activities.
McCall is the heart of Central Idaho’s patriotic celebration with a full day of events for the whole family.
All day, Downtown McCall, mccallchamber.org
Fourth oF julY in Mccall
Thursday, July 4
The lift will continue to run Fridays-Sundays and on holidays through Labor Day.
All that activity is sure to work up an appetite, so visitors can purchase burgers and barbecue starting at noon at the base. Stop by the Recreation Showcase while you’re there, with demos, displays, even the giveaway of a Giant mountain bike.
Hikers, bikers or sightseers can ride to the 7,640-foot summit on the Blue Bird quad lift, which offers not only incredible views across Central Idaho, but access to 20 miles of singletrack trails. Visitors can bring their own bikes or rent them at the mountain.
Hit the hill on opening day for free chairlift rides all day, coupled with a fundraiser for the Heartland Hunger Resource Center. Visitors are asked to donate one can of food—or $1—for each ride up the mountain to help support McCall’s food bank.
Brundage Mountain Resort is kicking off the beginning of its summer season in style with a party to mark the occasion.
10 a.m.-5 p.m., Brundage Mountain Resort. McCall, brundage.com
BrundaGe Mountain suMMer chairliFt Grand openinG
Friday, June 28
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Sunday, July 7
Check out the 25th annual juried arts and crafts fair at the historic townsite. See Saturday, July 6.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Historic Roseberry, one mile east of Donnelly, historicroseberry.com
Visitors can grab ice cream, burgers, lemonade, hot dogs and pastries while viewing antique engines and equipment, classic cars and kids crafts. Hop on for a hay, buggy or tractor ride for the full experience. A live auction starts at 2 p.m. with a quilt raffle at 3 p.m.
Noon-4 p.m. Historic Roseberry, one mile east of Donnelly, historicroseberry.com
roseBerrY arts and craFts Fair
old Fashioned ice creaM social
Saturday, Aug. 31
Support public education while sampling food and drink from some of the area’s top chefs, caterers and breweries. The fundraiser for the McCall-Donnelly Education Foundation includes a silent auction. Tickets cost $50 in advance.
Noon-4 p.m., River Ranch, McCall, mdef.org
taste oF Mccall
Boise’s own Curtis Stigers hosts the inaugural McCall Jazz Festival to benefit The Shepherd’s Home, which reaches out to kids in crisis. The lineup includes Paul Tillotson Trio, Matt Munisteri, John “Scrapper” Sneider and (of course) Stigers and his band, among others. Tickets cost $25 for lawn seating or $35 for chairs on the lawn.
Check out the 25th annual juried arts and crafts fair at the historic townsite, with artists joined by food vendors. The museum will be open as well.
9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Historic Roseberry, one mile east of Donnelly, historicroseberry.com
roseBerrY arts and craFts Fair
Join Celtic rockers Young Dubliners at the brewery. See Page 6.
Midnight McCall Brewing Company, 807 N. Third St., McCall
Mccall Music Festival aFterpartY
Featuring Pat Benatar with Neil Giraldo, Young Dubliners and Stone Stanley. See Page 6.
7-11 p.m. Manchester Ice Centre, 200 E. Lake St., McCall, cttouringid.com
Mccall Music Festival
Mccall jazz Fest
Saturday, July 6 3:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. McCall Golf Course, 925 Fairway Drive, McCall, curtisstigers.com
Saturday, Aug. 10
paYette lake antique and wooden Boat show- see pullout
FridaY, auGust 9
From Friday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 11, the McCall Music Society sponsors a series of classical music concerts and recitals, including a free family concert. Visit the website for more details and a full schedule. Tickets cost $25-$65.
Times and locations vary mccallmusicsociety.org
suMMer Fest
Friday, Aug. 2
art in the Garden - see pullout
More than 150 Corvettes will drive up Highway 55 to Ponderosa State Park in a parade of one of America’s classic sports cars. Watch from along the highway or view the cars after they arrive at the park around noon.
Noon Highway 55 to Ponderosa State Park, McCall
vette Fest
Saturday’s lineup includes Equaleyes, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Stonefed, Innocent Man, Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats, Andrew Sheppard, Steve Fulton Music and Thomas Paul Band. See Friday, July 26.
idahodownfestival.com
Join “soulfolkdeltareggae” singer-songwriter Stone Stanley at the brewery. See Page 6.
Midnight McCall Brewing Company, 807 N. Third St., McCall
Mccall Music Festival aFterpartY
Featuring Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Reckless Kelly and Jeff Crosby and the Refugees. See page 6.
7 p.m.-11 p.m. Manchester Ice Centre, 200 E. Lake St., McCall, cttouringid.com
Mccall Music Festival
Friday, July 5
thursdaY, julY 4 - Fourth oF julY in Mccall - see pullout
Every Tuesday night through the summer, the lakeside resort offers a two-course dinner at the Narrows Restaurant followed by a movie. Reservations recommended.
6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Shore Lodge, 501 W. Lake Street, McCall, shorelodge.com
Movie and dinner
Tuesday, July 2
Feel the tropical breezes in the middle of the Idaho mountains with DJ music, a Hawaiian shirt contest, hula girl contest, Tom Selleck mustache contest, giveaways and specials. It’s $2 to get in, or $1 for those in Hawaiian attire.
The final chance for the crowds to take in the sights will be Sunday, Aug. 11, when the boats return to Shore Lodge from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for a final show before being pulled out of the water for another year.
The flotilla action continues on Saturday, Aug. 10, starting with a boat parade across the lake to downtown McCall at 9:30 a.m., followed by a second chance for the public to check out the boats at Shore Lodge until 5 p.m. The public can also join boat owners for a barbecue lunch from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with live music lakeside from noon-4 p.m.
The pampered wooden boats will hit the water on Friday, Aug. 9, with the first guided boat cruise set for that afternoon, followed by a public boat show from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at the docks at Shore Lodge in downtown McCall.
Every August, Payette Lake is taken over by some of the most prized wooden boats on the water for three days of shows, cruises, competition and socializing.
All Day, Payette Lake, McCall, payetteclassicboats.com
paYette lake antique and wooden Boat show
Friday, Aug. 9
Tickets cost $45 and must be purchased in advance. Numbers are limited, so plan ahead.
Proceeds from the event go to help the MAHC provide an array of programs for the community, including children’s art classes and community events.
The art show and silent auction benefit the McCall Arts and Humanities Council and features juried work by 30 regional artists. Ticket holders stroll the private lakeside garden, listening to live music, sipping on wine and munching on appetizers. When not noshing, they’re bidding on their favorite pieces of art.
Charlie’s Garden is a favorite local gem—designed by landscape designer Charlie Davidson and still owned by his family—and the site of one of the area’s favorite art shows and fundraisers.
5:30-8:30 p.m., Charlie’s Garden, off Wagon Wheel Road, McCall, mccallarts.org
art in the Garden
Saturday, July 27
The kids parade begins at 6 p.m., but the real highlight of the day isn’t until sundown, when crowds are wowed with a massive fireworks display over Payette Lake. That’s a view that’s hard to beat.
to kick things off, followed by Innocent Man at 3:30 p.m., Half Ton at 6 p.m. and Jeff Crosby and the Refugees at 8:30 p.m. Need something a little more old fashioned? Try the watermelon-eating contest at 2 p.m., the potato sack races at 3 p.m., the water balloon toss at 4 p.m. or the cornhole tournament, also at 4 p.m. Even better, all this nostalgia is free.
M. BrodiaEa Gary M. ErttEr
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country, loop-focused trail.” Elk Trail is a popular, mature trail, according to Maupin, but features enough turns and change in elevation to keep both hardcore mountain bikers and novices interested. While a pro might traverse the seven-mile stretch in 45 minutes, families tend to take their time.
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“I’ve seen mom and dad come up with [kids] as young as 4 or 5 years old, and
spend three hours coming down that trail,” he said. “The kids were giggling and happy when they got to the bottom.” Brundage also offers cross-country and downhill bike rentals for men, women and children. Giant Glory, Reign and Kona bikes are offered in the Brundage fleet, available individually as a package for prices ranging from $35-$99. Lift tickets are available based on frequency, with a summer-long lift pass available for $99.
Pat Benatar—still hittin’ us with her best shot.
Ready to Rock
McCall Music Festival fills busy holiday weekend Deanna Darr Fourth of July weekend in McCall is one of the area’s busiest times, with Treasure Valley residents escaping the heat at home by heading to the forested shores of Payette Lake. The town always throws out the welcome mat with a day of events and fireworks (see Page 4), but this year, Boise-based CT Touring is adding a two-day music festival to the mix. “Most people leave the Treasure Valley and head to McCall or Sun Valley, so we thought we’d head to where the people are,” said Kristine Simoni, marketing and entertainment director for CT Touring. What’s being billed as the McCall Music Festival will kick off on Friday, July 5, at the Manchester Ice and Events Centre (200 E. Lake St., McCall), where Big Head Todd and the Monsters headline the show, which also features Idaho faves country rockers Reckless Kelly and McCall-based Jeff Crosby and the Refugees. The tunes will veer more toward rock on Saturday, July 6, when ’80s legend Pat Benatar takes the stage with Neil Giraldo. Celtic-tinged rockers (and regular Boise visitors) Young Dubliners will open the show, along with So Cal-based Stone Stanley. “They’re different styles of music, so each night can appeal to two different types of
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music lovers,” Simoni said. While the company has staged shows at Brundage Mountain Resort in the past, this is the first time it has worked in the ice rink. It also means the company will be bringing a full stage, lighting and sound system from Boise for the event. Because of the layout, there will be about 2,000 seats available for each show. Advanced two-day passes went on sale in April, but Simoni said individual day tickets are now available and any remaining seats will be sold at the door. Two-day passes cost $79 or $119 for the VIP section, where concertgoers will have access to a bleacher-style seating area and a private bar. Individual day tickets cost $39.50 or $59.50 for VIP. If large indoor concerts aren’t your thing, there’s still a way to get in on the music in a more intimate setting. McCall Brewing Company is hosting a pair of “official” afterparties following each concert. On Friday, Stone Stanley will perform at the brewpub following the Big Head Todd set, and on Saturday, Young Dubliners will move straight from the main stage to the brewery. Tickets for the ice arena shows are available at ticketfly.com.
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