Shelley - Other Information
Special Events
The city of Shelley has 1 major event that it hosts in the fall. The Idaho Spud Day is a celebration held to commemorate the harvest of the city's major produce: the Russet Potato. Spud Day has several activities:
- Parade
- Dutch Oven Cookoff
- Free baked potatoes
- Carnival with booths and games
The Miss Russet Pageant is associated with Spud day, though the Pageant is held a few days before so that the newly crowned Miss Russet can participate in the Spud Day Parade.
Shelley started out as a farming community built around the Russet Potato. The potato harvest needs to be done within a short span of time, resulting in a sudden burst of effort in what is otherwise a fairly normal community. For many years the only way that farmers could get their harvest done on schedule was to enlist the help of anyone and everyone they could find, resulting in a lot of kids working in the harvest. This started the tradition in Shelley of suspending school for the 2 weeks of the harvest so that the older students could help. Though fewer students participate in the harvest in recent years, this 2 week break is still being held. But much to the students' annoyance, they still have to get just as many hours of school in as any other district, resulting in a shorter spring break, christmas break, and a few days subtracted from summer vacation.
Other activities
Much of the stretch of Snake River that flows past Shelley is a tranquil river, though there are a few short stretches of minor rapids. During the summer it is not uncommon to see groups of local youth floating down it on inner-tubes. These are often church groups, though some times they are friends out for fun, or a a family activity. In addition to the kids on inner-tubes, there are boats and canoes that put in below the dam and float the stretch from the Gem Lake reservoir down to the North Bingham County Park, and fishermen can be seen on occasion anywhere along that span of river as well.
The local church groups hold youth activities and dances for kids from 12 to 18. Though these events are hosted primarily by the local LDS church, so long as you are respectful of their beliefs and requirements, anyone is welcome.
North East of Shelley is the Sandy Downs Horse track and sand dune. The horse races draw a respectable number of spectators, and the Sand dune and fire pits are a popular place for events and get-togethers.
For additional activities, Idaho Falls is only about 15 minutes away to the north, and Blackfoot is just over 20 minutes to the south.
Shelley also has a Public Library close to the center of town, and a Brohlums for local groceries.
Additional Information
Shelley Moving | Shelley City Resources
