Another great Havre Festival Days

A Havre High School fast pitch player hands out candy Saturday morning in the Festival Days parade.

After three days of beautiful weather and activities all over Havre entertaining hundreds of guests, the 2012 Havre Festival Days was a success.

As usual, the centerpiece of the event was Saturday morning's Festival Days Parade.

Hundreds of people lined 5th Avenue, in some cases several hours in advance, to get a good seat for the procession of dozens of local organizations looking to honor home with this year's theme "Celebrating 100 Years of Hill County. "

According to the judges, the best commercial float was the 10-foot terraced birthday cake-looking float of Walmart, decorated with the names and logos of local organizations that provide and maintain the infrastructure of the community.

The best non-commercial float was, once again, the defending champions of the Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club. This year's wooden painting of the Hill County Courthouse appeared to maintain the judge's interest.

Havre Mayor Tim Solomon selected the North Stars Dance Studio float for the Mayor's Choice Award. And as the streamer-covered carousel dance floor, filled with young dancers in colorful costumes, passed by playing pop hits, it was easy to see why.

After a hectic week of putting on one of the area's largest events, Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg is excited that it went so well.

"I think it went awesome, " Vandeberg said. "There were people everywhere, literally everywhere. Hotels were full. There were lines in restaurants. The weather was perfect.

"I just want to thank everyone for coming out to help celebrate another great Festival Days. "