Sugarbeet Festival returns to Chinook

The 11th Annual Sugarbeet Festival kicked off today and will continue to entertain those who partake until Saturday night.

The focus of this year's Sugarbeet Festival is the electrical industry, said organizer Heather DePriest.

"Ultimately, each year we feature an industry in our area that's instrumental in creating jobs and sustaining the local economy," DePriest said.

NorthWestern Energy, Hill County Electric, Red Rock Power are a few of the companies they're featuring during the festival this year.

"They are participating very heavily and bringing in a lot of fun events," DePriest said.

In addition to the annual events that come to the Sugarbeet Festival every year, the theme will bring professional power pole climbing, a power pole relay, power pole framing and hurt-man rescue demonstrations.

The Sweet Medical Center's health fair started the events for the festival. Today also holds the opening of the vendors on Main Street, professional speed climbing up power poles and an outside showing of "Night at the Museum 2" north of the Wildlife Museum.

Saturday, the festival will be fully underway with the annual Sugarbeet competition, team sorting at the fairgrounds, bucket truck rides, demonstrations from linemen, the parade and much more.

Friday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Blaine County Museum Open

1 to 9 p.m. - Vendors on Main Street Chinook - Contact Sarah Pratt at 357-4256

5 p.m. - Professional Speed Climbing (the public is invited to watch professionals climb a power pole)

9 p.m. - "Night at the Museum 2" Outdoor Movie - north of the Wildlife Museum - Main Street (bring lawn chairs)

Saturday

8 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Dan's Auto Parts Breakfast at the Senior Citizens Center

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Vendors on Main Street Chinook - Contact Gretchan Greytak at 399-0506

9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Car Show - Contact Mike Copenhaver at 357-3446

9 a.m. - Black pot cooking contest begins (Taste testing at 12:30 p.m.)

9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Sugarbeet entries begin (Near Wells Fargo) - Contact Heidi Brown - 357-3812

Special Awards (best decorated/largest beet)

10 a.m. - Fun run - Pre-register for T-Shirts online or contact Craig Lowham at 357-2244.

(Three-mile run starts at 10 a.m. and one-mile run starts at 11 a.m.)

10 a.m. - Team sorting - Blaine County Fairgrounds

(Sponsored by the North Central Montana Stockgrowers Association.)

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Bucket truck rides - Main Street

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Blaine County Museum/Wildlife Museum open

11 a.m. – Sugarbeet growing contest judging - Contact Heidi Brown - 357-3812

11 a.m. - Power pole framing and hurtman rescue demonstrations

12:30 p.m. - Live music by local musicians throughout the afternoon (Main Street)

Contact Pricilla Heflin at 654-4953 or 357-2424

12:30 p.m. - Black pot cooking contest taste testing

1 p.m. - Round bale races (Down Main Street Chinook)

2 p.m. - Power pole relay (eight-team Maximum), contact Loren Soyen at 406-781-8033 to register.

3:15 p.m. - Line up for parade in front of Meadowlark School

4 p.m. - Parade - Main Street

5 p.m. - Look-alike costume contest (Dress up like a power pole lineman or woman) Contact Kelsey Harry at 357-2593 - groups and individuals invited

5:30 p.m. - Community barbecue - Centennial Park - Main Street, Chinook

Sugarbeet Festival winners will be announced during the Barbeque

8 p.m. - Drive-in movie at the fairgrounds ("Monsters Inc".)

8:30 p.m. - Nighttime Horseshoe Tournament (under the lights at the fairgrounds pits)

Business decorating contest - Awards will be given to the best-themed business