Extended Tabernacle Tours Welcome Late-Season Crowds
Paris, ID · September 12, 2026
Support crews and early morning travelers are already rolling through town today, giving our usually quiet sidewalks a welcome burst of autumn energy.
The Lead
A steady post-Labor Day influx of travelers is bringing an unseasonably lively stretch to town this week. With the newly completed Montpelier Idaho Temple opening its doors for a rare two-week public open house, thousands of regional visitors are pouring through Bear Lake County along U.S. 89. Downtown Paris is feeling the direct ripple effect: local volunteer docents at the 1889 Paris Tabernacle have officially extended daily thirty-minute guided tours through late September to handle the overflow crowds admiring the landmark's hand-hewn red sandstone arches and pioneer woodwork. For local shop owners and cafes, the unexpected September surge offers a second wind just as the summer rush normally winds down. Volunteer guides expect visitor traffic to peak between mid-morning and late afternoon through the weekend, keeping sidewalks bustling until October arrives.
Local Pulse
- Federal Drought Relief Opens for Valley Producers The USDA designated Bear Lake County a disaster area, unlocking emergency farm loans through next May.
Today's Outlook
- High 78°F · Low 43°F — Overcast
- A cloud-covered afternoon stays mild, though you will want a layer for the chilly morning.
What's On Around Town
Soda Springs: Caribou County Fall Festival Soda Springs City Park, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Pie baking contest, salsa showdown, live music, and food trucks.
Logan: Cache Valley Latino Festival Center Street, 11:00 AM–10:00 PM Cultural dancers, a street parade, and food trucks across downtown.
Montpelier: Bigfoot Ice Cream Social Montpelier Creek KOA (285 Montpelier Canyon Rd), 1:00–2:00 PM Frothy root beer floats and build-your-own sundaes on the lawn.
Spotlight & Story
- The French Millstones
- Resting near the lawn south of the Tabernacle, these massive buhr stones crossed the Atlantic from France before journeying west by ox team. In 1876, pioneer leader Charles C. Rich bought the pair from Brigham Young for two mules to grind Bear Lake wheat.
Paris Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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