Buhl residents and visitors planning to attend Saturday’s Sagebrush Days festival should plan to arrive early, as road construction projects have prompted the Buhl Police Department to implement street closures beginning at 9 a.m.
The city’s annual celebration will proceed as scheduled, but motorists face a narrow window to reach Buhl before barriers go up. Police have urged out-of-town attendees to enter town before 9 a.m., warning that access will become severely restricted once the closures take effect.
“Please plan on getting here before 9 a.m. After 9 a.m. we will be shutting down roads and denying entry to town from a majority of the access roads,” the Buhl Police Department posted in a community advisory.
Which Roads Will Close
Several major thoroughfares will be blocked to through traffic. Burley Avenue will be closed, along with a portion of U.S. Highway 30 near Broadway Avenue. Additionally, sections of Clear Lakes Road and Sawtooth Road will be shut down to accommodate the event activities.
Officials emphasized the consequence for late arrivals. “If motorists try to enter after 9 a.m., you have a strong likelihood you will be turned around,” police cautioned.
Saturday’s Festival Schedule
The parade, a centerpiece of Sagebrush Days, begins at 10 a.m. at Holly Street and Broadway Avenue North, running south to the intersection of Clear Lakes Road and Broadway Avenue South. A military flyover will accompany the parade procession.
Vendors will set up in the city park and begin selling merchandise at 11 a.m. A fun run and pancake breakfast at the West End Senior Center, located at 1010 Main Street, will take place Saturday morning. Fireworks will launch at dusk to close out the day’s festivities.
Friday Evening Events
Activities begin Friday evening with a Guns vs. Hoses softball game starting at 5 p.m. A fish fry will be served from 6 to 8 p.m. at the senior center.
Paranormal investigator Melanie Rediker will lead ghost tours starting at noon Friday at the Historic Buhl Hotel, located at 1008 Main Street above the senior center. Tickets cost $14, with proceeds supporting the senior center’s home-delivered meal program for area seniors.
The combination of road work and event activities has created the need for early arrival to avoid delays. Families and out-of-town visitors should factor in extra travel time and plan their departure accordingly to beat the 9 a.m. closure deadline.
Bannock County residents looking for other summer community celebrations might also consider Pocatello’s America’s 250th weekend featuring a symphony, parade, and time capsule or the fourth annual Mystic Realms Fantasy Fair at the Bannock County Event Center.
What Comes Next
Organizers encourage attendees to arrive well before midmorning to secure parking and enjoy the full day of activities. Those planning to participate in Friday’s evening events should make their travel arrangements separately, as the road closure window applies specifically to Saturday’s daytime programming. For additional details about Sagebrush Days, residents should contact the Buhl Police Department or check local community announcements.