Peak's tradition marches on through the holidays
Courtesy photo Santa hands a present to a good Silver Valley child at last year’s Christmas dinner. Although, Richards does not know how long the event has been going on for, it has been a fixture of the Snake Pit since Jow Peak’s time.
ENAVILLE — The late owner of the famous Snake Pit, Joe Peak, was know for many things while he and his wife, Rosemary, operated the more than a hundred-year-old restaurant and bar.
On top of simply keeping the North Idaho treasure in working order since he took it over in 1978, Peak was deeply involved in the community and showed it with his actions.
One of the many events that he made a tradition of at the Snake Pit was the annual Community Christmas dinner, where all were welcome to have a nice holiday meal on the house and take in some Christmas cheer.
Tom Richard, the establishment’s current owner, takes pride in keeping Peak’s legacy intact and is not looking to break tradition any time soon.
“Joe Peak started this many years ago with a couple local people and its always involved free dinner, Santa Claus and free presents for younger kids,” Richards said. “Those are all things that we thought were great ides to keep going.”
Richards added that his goal is to keep it as close as he can to how Peak used to host the dinner.
Peak’s other two events that have continued after his passing are the Ride the Wall mountain bike ride and the Turkey Trot.
Folks who attend the dinner can expect a turkey and ham buffet with mashed potatoes, rolls and vegetables. The bar will also be open and live music will be played.
Younger attendees can look forward to a visit from Santa and a free present if they are under 12 years old.
The presents available for the kids are provided by the Snake Pit, Santa’s workshop in Kellogg, North Idaho Mining Apparel and some of the Snake Pit’s other suppliers.
Two years ago, 450 dinners were served for this event. Last year, it was 503.
With the uptick in attendance, Richards and the Snake Pit are looking to serve around 550 dinners this year.
In addition to the legacy of Peak, this event is also a big shout-out to the people in our area.
“It’s a thank you from us for the community that has supported us for decades and continues to support us for the last couple years,” Richards said.
The free dinner will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 and donations will be accepted to help cover the cost of the event.