words by Hayden Seder Now back for its fourth year, the annual Sun Valley Food & Wine Celebration is the area’s premier food and wine event. The brainchild of the Sun Valley Culinary Institute (SVCI), which offers affordable, professional culinary education, the Sun Valley Food & Wine Celebration is five days of VIP experiences and public events, including the gala opening dinner, private chef dinners, cooking classes, demonstrations, tastings, lectures, and more. Join SVCI January 27–31, 2026, for an unforgettable culinary experience. The Chefs Each year, SVCI is thrilled to welcome exciting new chefs as well as the return of favorite culinary masters to the Sun Valley Food & Wine Celebration, which has seen the likes of James Beard Award Winners, Chopped champions, Tournament of Champions participants, acclaimed restaurateurs, and Food Network celebrity chefs. This year’s lineup of seventeen chefs is no exception, and includes Barton Seaver, one of the world’s leading sustainable seafood experts and educators; James Beard Award nominee Brother Luck, nationally recognized for his appearances on Top Chef, Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay; and Kelsey Barnard Clark, the fifth woman and first southerner to win the title of Bravo’s Top Chef and a 2024 James Beard Award …
What We’re Made Of: Satori Sake
Written by Hayden Seder In a small garage space by the airport in Hailey is the production facility for Idaho’s first sake brewery: Satori Sake. While the Wood River Valley may not seem like the most obvious place to launch a sake business, for owner and brewmaster Shin Hasegawa, quitting his job in tech, moving to the Wood River Valley, and tapping into his Japanese heritage ended up being a “satori” moment for him—and one that sake lovers in Southern Idaho have responded to with enthusiasm. How It Started Like so many others who move to the Wood River Valley, Shin was looking for a change. After leaving his home of Tokyo, where he trained as a sushi chef, he moved to California and worked as a sushi chef before eventually relocating to the Bay Area to work in tech. Though he had left Japan, he brought a piece of home with him, through making fermented foods at home: beer, kombucha, miso paste, soy sauce, and kimchi. Eventually, he quit his job and moved to Ketchum in 2020, unsure what his next move was. His “satori” moment (satori is the Japanese Buddhist experience of awakening) came on the chairlift, when …
What Not to Miss at the 29th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival
Aside from the brilliant transitioning leaves, The Trailing of the Sheep Festival is the highlight of Sun Valley’s fall season. Celebrating sheep and sheep herding traditions, Trailing of the Sheep offers a unique glimpse in to a part of Idaho’s past. Five days of dancing, music, wool classes, lamb dinners, sheep dog trials, and the famous Big Sheep Parade will tantalize the spectrum of senses.
What We’re Made Of: Kika MacFarlane
There’s a good chance you haven’t heard the name Kika MacFarlane, but you’ve likely seen her work in various spots across the Wood River Valley. The art director, designer, illustrator, and animator based out of Hailey has worked with various local companies and businesses, creating such fun works as the mural on the backside of Sturtevant’s in Hailey, a colorful bench that sits outside The Wylde Beet restaurant as well as a T-shirt for them, the art wrap for The Community Library’s bookmobile, posters for the Alpine Ski World Cup, or the new logo and branding for local women’s mountain bike apparel Wild Rye. After studying design and liberal arts, Kika went on to design graphics in-house for Patagonia and Stio, then eventually cofounded her own studio, Two Toes Creative (with cofounder Tala Schlossberg, who lives in New York) where she makes animated videos, designs for purpose-driven brands, and leads creative retreats. Prior to moving to the Wood River Valley three years ago, Kika was based in another mountain town, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Though Jackson had a similar vibe to Ketchum, her and her then boyfriend (now husband), who grew up in the area, felt ready for a change and …
Sun Valley: A Place for Flannel-Loving Hipsters
Within a day’s drive of trend-setting Portland, and with the help of nonstop flights into Hailey’s SUN airport, big-town hipster culture has permeated the west. The influence of well-read, big-rimmed glasses-wearing and flannel-loving thirty-something’s has even infiltrated the small resort town of Sun Valley. Here, microbreweries, handcrafted cocktails, great coffee and beard-trimming locations abound, making the trend-adverse hipster, feel at home. Take a walk in a pair of Birkenstocks, and try out Sun Valley, “hipster-style”.
Fall Festivals You Have to See
From iconic music to herds of sheep running down Main Street, Sun Valley’s festivals are designed to delight your senses. We invite you to experience how we celebrate fall in the mountains. But be careful, you may just find it hard to leave.
Not to Miss Arts & Culture Events This Summer
When we travel, we all have our tried-and-true activities, but why not spice things up with a one-of-a-kind experience? Get ready for a Sun Valley summer like no other because we’ve got a whole lineup of arts & culture events that you won’t find anywhere else! From our signature summer extravaganzas to offbeat and extraordinary experiences, it’s time to create your ultimate Sun Valley summer bucket list. So, throw caution to the wind, embrace the unexpected, and let the adventure begin. Don’t miss out on the chance to make memories that will last a lifetime – start planning your Sun Valley summer today! Sun Valley Wine Auction The 44th Sun Valley begins Tuesday, June 24th and concludes on Thursday the 26th. This event includes gastronomic adventures, Magnum Pig Roast, Vintner Dinners, River Ranch Wine Walk, and the Gala and Live Auction. Learn more at Sunvalleywineauction.org Ballet Sun Valley Saturday June 28th and Sunday June 29th will have The National Ballet of Canada debut in the valley at the Sun Valley Pavilion. Don’t miss this chance to catch a magical night of world-class dance, visit balletsunvalley.org. Sawtooth Valley Gathering The 10th annual Sawtooth Valley Gathering comes to Stanley June 19–22 for a weekend …
Oktoberfest in Sun Valley: Raising a Stein in Honor of History
The Sawtooth Brewery presents the annual Oktoberfest celebration in the Ketchum Town Square every September.
Labor Day Weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho
The long Labor Day weekend has become a bit of a big deal here in Sun Valley, Idaho over the years. It’s a last summer hoorah as the kids begin to head back to school and the crisp temperatures of fall start to nip at our heels. With spirits running high and festivities plentiful, this is one long weekend that you won’t want to miss. To make the most out of the Labor Day weekend we’ve put together a list of all the best happenings. Wagon Days Rebecca’s Private Idaho Gallery Walk Free Movie on the Pavilion Lawn Sun Valley On Ice The Revivalists Find your next favorite Sun Valley Labor Day tradition this year! For the full line-up, head over to our events calendar. Events Calendar
Free Summer Music in the Wood River Valley
words and photos by Hayden Seder While there are always big-name concerts at some of Sun Valley’s larger venues—River Run Plaza, The Argyros, Sun Valley Pavilion—there are also numerous, free weekly concerts put on by some of the area’s favorite establishments with local musicians of all genres. Below are where to catch free tunes in the summer! Ketch’em Alive Arguably Ketchum’s best and best-attended free summer music event, Ketch’em Alive brings musical acts to Forest Service Park for an evening of lively tunes, dancing, and seeing friends every Tuesday from 6:30–8:30pm, June 17 through August 5. Pack a picnic or enjoy a variety of food and beverage options available for purchase from local onsite vendors. August 5: Andrew Sheppard Wylde Beet Tiny Deck Summer Concert Series Vegan restaurant The Wylde Beet on Main Street in Hailey is celebrating summer with their monthly Tiny Deck Summer Concert Series, where local musicians play free concerts on the restaurant’s patio. Plant-based food and beverages are available for purchase while you listen to tunes form 4pm to 8pm. Check their calendar listings for the most up-to-date info. August 8: Wildwoods (4–6pm) and Canyon Kids (6–8pm) Hailey Rocks Started as a similar event to Ketch’em …