The fourth annual Lava Hot Springs Folk Festival this past April 12 and 13, supported by the downtown businesses in Lava Hot Springs and sponsored by the greater Lava Hot Springs Prosperity Foundation, was a huge success.

All proceeds from the raffle tickets sold at each venue went toward the Lava Elementary School music program. Mike Vice, representing the Greater Lava Hot Springs Prosperity Foundation; Liz Tuttle, representing the downtown businesses of Lava Hot Springs; and Tahra Charmaine Waller, representing the Lava Folk Festival Committee (and “Tahra Time” herself), announced the amount of $4,030 collected from this year’s event from the raffle tickets, beating last year’s ticket sales by over $900. Instruments donated from The Piano Gallery, Mike’s Music and Dan Mihlfeith Studio, were presented to the kids and teachers at the Lava Hot Springs Elementary. They aim to continue the Folk Festival each year and make it an annual success to raise funds towards area school music programs.

A special thank you to everyone who donated prizes for the raffle, donated cash contributions, donated instruments both new and used, all the volunteers including the children of Lava Elementary who helped sell tickets, and to the following Folk Festival venue hosts: Dragonfly Gallery, THE Royal Pizzeria, Chuckwagon Restaurant, Lava Hot Springs Inn & Spa, Mike’s Market, Riverside Hot Springs Inn & Spa (Café & A’More and Portneuf Grille & Lounge), Alpaca Inn, Home Hotel, Lava Ace Hardware, Suites of Lava Hot Springs & Whimsy Gift Shop, Lost in Lava, Purple Moon World Gifts, South Bannock County Historical Museum, Wagon Wheel Lounge, Blue Moon Bar & Grill, Dempsey Creek Trading Post, Mountain Mayhem & Adventure Rentals and 78 Main Street Eatery.

Thank you to all in the community who supported the event! Your contributions are providing young kids with the resources necessary to turn it into a thriving music program. If you missed it this year, please put it on your calendar for next year! It’s a celebration for a great cause!

Liz Tuttle,

Lava Folk Festival Committee,

Lava Hot Springs