When the Drums Echoed at City Beach

Back in the day — long before Sandpoint became known for art walks and wine tastings — the beat of tribal drums used to carry across the lake in the summer. The Kalispel people would gather near what’s now City Beach, hosting annual powwows that drew families from up and down the region. There were dances, stick games, and storytelling by firelight. Kids would splash in the shallows while elders passed down songs and wisdom. It wasn’t a festival for tourists — it was a sacred celebration of identity, right there on the sand. Folks who remember say you could feel the heartbeat of the land in the rhythm of those drums. They stopped in the early ’50s, but some swear they still hear the echo when the wind comes in just right.