Meeting set Tuesday to finalize plans for Festival Days

From Havre Area Chamber of Commerce

Havre Festival Days planning is underway, with the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce holding a meeting Tuesday to look for input on how to improve the event.

The theme for this year’s weekend is “Roots and Branches …We Need Each Other.”

This community event was started after several years of no real community celebration, after the ever-popular band or May Festival was discontinued in the 1960s.

This year’s celebration marks the 38th year the Havre community has celebrated Festival Days.

Once again, the Friends of the Library Book Sale that runs in conjunction with Festival Days starts the day before, Thursday, Sept. 20.

Friday, Sept. 21, sees the start of the 48-hour softball tournament and the Steve Heil Memorial Car Show.

The activities continues Saturday, Sept. 22, starting with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and the final Satruday Market at Town Square. The parade, the big event of Festival Days, highlights the weekend. The Chamber is seeking nominations for grand marshal of the parade. People can contact the chamber with their vote.

Continuing throughout the afternoon is the opening of the Festival of Crafts and Commercial Products Show, KNMC Rock Lotto will perform in Town Square and Beta is having a street dance at the Eagles Club.

Sunday, Sept. 23, wraps up the weekend with the final games of the 48-hour softball tournament, the Run of Special Trains, the Craft Show, Library Book Sale and the Festival Run/Walk.

This year, there will be lots to see and do with the many additions to the weekend schedule. A few of the exciting new additions are a Festival of Nations show, Golf Scramble, Moonlight Night Shoot, a “Best of” Havre contest and an Obstacle Course.

Clubs or organizations planning an event during Festival Days weekend that want it noted on the event flier need to contact the Chamber at 265-4383. The Chamber finalizes the flier and poster in July.

Big changes are coming to Festival Days which are to include a change of parade route and vendors downtown, along with fun and games in the Atrium parking lot. The Chamber could use the community’s input and help on these changes. People can join the organizers for a Festival Days meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Chamber office at 130 Fifth Ave. Anyone interested in bringing Festival Days up to its full potential is welcome.

Festival Days is a fitting conclusion to the summer. There is something for everyone. People can mark their calendars for Sept. 21-23 and plan to attend the 38th celebration of Havre Festival Days.