2011 Plains Day theme to be "Out-laws & In-laws"

The planning for the 2011 Plains Day is already underway.  This year’s celebration, which includes over 15 events, is scheduled for Saturday, June 4th.

This year’s theme is “Outlaws and in-laws,” and will feature western décor such bandits or other Wild West paraphernalia, said Kathy Logan, an event chair. 

The special addition to this year’s event is an art festival, said Logan.  The goal of the show and craft fair is to get some quality and talented artists to showcase their work.  The art festival will be held at Fred Young Park in downtown Plains.

“We are hoping to get about 45 artists for the show ranging in talents from pottery, embroidery, leather work, paintings, and glass artists,” said Ellen Childress, the director of the Plains Day art festival.

“The art festival will hopefully be one of the larger events of Plains Day,” she said.

The fair is open to all artists from the area, but Childress said they are hoping to get the majority from Sanders County.  Artists will have a booth to display , and all of their items must be hand crafted and not re-saled.  High School student booths will be half price and all booths may be shared.

The committee bases the theme around a movie, which is played at a makeshift drive-n theatre at the Plains pool park.  The movie playing this year is “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” and viewers will be able to have the sound come in through their vehicle radios.

Plains Day will kick-off with a Mason’s breakfast at 7:00 a.m. followed by a 5-K run.  Logan also said this year’s vendors will be lined up on the “greenway,” which is the section of grass near the sidewalk and railroad tracks in downtown Plains.  There will be food and art for people to enjoy, which opens at 10:00 a.m.

Plains Day is a countywide celebration but focuses mainly on local business is Plains.  It began as a way for local commercial businesses and merchants to thank their customers for another year of patronage.

After all costs are covered to put on Plains Day, the rest of the money made will go towards the Plains pool fund. 

“The goal is not to make money, but just to have a good time,” said Logan.  “It is tons of fun for locals, tourists and is geared towards kids and families.”

People can choose from a variety of events scheduled throughout the day.  A parade will head downtown Plains at noon, followed by car show awards, a demo derby at the Sanders County Fairgrounds at 5:00 p.m. 

There will be blow up gyms for children in the schoolyard along with turtle races, which start at 1:00.  Rocky Mountain Bank sponsors the races and also will hold an ice cream social. From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. there will be a $2 community barbeque at the Plains pool park.

Plains Day will finish with the drive-in movie, which starts at dusk.