Thompson Days mixes history with fun

When all was said and done and the last musical notes played Saturday night, David Thompson Days: A Community Rendezvous was deemed a success by people who were involved. Organizers hope it will grow and expand in years to come.

“I am so pleased with everything,” Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce Co-President Cindy Bronner said. “We really had a great turnout.”

Bronner said they have high hopes for next year. This year they only had a small group of volunteers, and she hopes that next year they’ll be able to get more volunteers to help out with the planning of everything. She also said that they would really like to expand the rendezvous camp.

“There were going to be more rendezvousers at the camp, but many of them had prior engagements considering it was Fourth of July weekend,” Bronner said.

Bronner said she really felt like the chamber did a good job of getting the people what they wanted.

“This happened because people in our community wanted it to happen,” she said.

At this year’s rendezvous, community members and visitors alike were able to enjoy a parade, which kicked off the festivities of the day. They also got to experience what life would have been like in the 1800s, thanks to a voyager camp. They also got to learn a little bit about the history of David Thompson as Jack Nisbet gave a speech detailing research he had done on David Thompson.

Nisbet detailed Thompson’s journeys from 1807-12 as he traveled down the Kootenai, Flathead and Clark Fork Rivers.

At 6 p.m. a concert started at River’s Bend Golf Course with musical acts Nobody Famous and Brody.

There was also a dessert challenge posed to local restaurants in the area. Rimrock, Little Bear, Minnie’s Cafe, and Thompson Grill. Anyone was allowed to sample the sweet treats and then fill out a ballot with their favorite. Little Bear won the dessert competition with their chocolate torte.

In addition to the festivities happening because of David Thompson Days the Thompson Falls Market was in full swing again as well from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. New vendors attended the market and there was also plenty of fresh produce. Ella Marie Habegger came with baked goods, including bread, fruit pies and cinnamon rolls. Vicky Sheteron, Michael Parker and Charlotte Rowe had a wide variety of items including quilts, fresh eggs, jewelry and baby dolls. Gail Day and Dot Devolder had log furniture, etched glass and crocheted items at their booth. Shirley and Bill Newby had alphabet letters designed in fun ways, to make names and wall hangings from. Joe and Margaret Juneman had cherries as well as a variety of other crafts and Bill and Helen Meadow had fresh vegetables including lettuce, beets and rhubarb as well as baked goods.

After all the festivities were over Bronner said she though everything went excellent and smooth. “We’re so happy with how things happened this year that we’re already making plans for next year,” she said.

Bronner said she got so many thank yous throughout the day, with people coming up and telling her that this was just what the community needed. “Everything was just awesome, we’re so thankful and blessed.”

Bronner said they were happy with the fact that they focused on the historic value and the intimacy of the event rather than the numbers and the money. “We want to keep it more hometown, like the good old country fair,” she said. “We’re looking for more of the quality and not the quantity.”

Bronner said they’re already planning for next year’s David Thompson Days, but they haven’t decided whether it will take place on Fourth of July weekend again.