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METALINE FALLS — The Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival, this year from June 14 to 15, will cause some changes in traffic and parking next weekend, reminds Mayor Tara Leininger.
Leininger wrote in a June 3 news release that she had yet to receive an update from the Pend Oreille Region Tourism Alliance, which coordinates the annual event, but word was that it will be busy, with a number of vendors and events and an expected large crowd.
First, Washington will be closed from the highway through the Fourth Avenue intersection. Only those on Sixth and to the west of Washington below the park will be allowed access. Otherwise, no parking will be allowed on Washington. Second, Fifth Avenue will be closed from Washington through Kubota Street. No parking will be allowed on this block of Fifth Avenue.
Both changes will be enforced from noon June 13 to 4 p.m. June 15 to allow vendors to set up safely. People are not to move any barriers, cones or signage, block any driveways, alleys or streets or park on private or city property not marked for parking, including any empty lots and the sports field south of The Cutter Theatre. The “softball” field, however, may have parking areas available; Leininger wrote to watch for signs and parking attendants.
The Bigfoot Festival organizers are responsible for ensuring that all parking is legal and does not interfere with emergency vehicle access to private or public buildings. Inform one of the event organizers — specifically, Kelly Flanagan of PORTA — or a Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office deputy about any issues; the Town of Metaline Falls has “basically no ability” to deal with them other than through event organizers or law enforcement, Leininger wrote.
Her other reminders: a marathon is heading up Lehigh Hill Road, back down and around town on Saturday morning; local business on Fifth will be open but busier than usual; and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Metaline Falls Assembly of God and the Metaline Falls Congregational United Church of Christ will need their parking areas for Sunday morning worship.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is on Park Street; mass begins at 8 a.m. and usually ends around 9:30 a.m. The Metaline Falls Assembly of God is on Grandview Avenue and in worship from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Metaline Falls Congregational UCC is at the intersection of Fifth and Grandview and in worship from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Parking for these three churches must be available between 7 and 11 a.m.
Leininger recommended getting a picture with Bigfoot, who she wrote is “pretty easy to spot.”
“Enjoy the vendors and the food and all the speakers and presentations,” Leininger wrote. “It is always an energetic and frenetic weekend.”
