Homesteaders Days draws crowds

HOT SPRINGS - Starting Friday at noon Hot Springs 66th Annual Homesteaders Days Celebrations kicked off and lasted till 2:00pm Sunday, ending with a rodeo.

Friday there was crafts, art and food along Main Street till five. People had their choice of hot dogs, chinese food, ice cream, lemonade or authentic Mexican tacos or tortas. The crafts included tatting, beaded jewelry and paintings. There were also booths that sold rugs, shirts, military surplus, produce or plants for gardens.

Saturday was the biggest day with events early in the morning all the way late into night and the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Promptly at 9:30am there was the, “Skunk Alley Run, 3k and 10k.” All the runners met at the Wall St. Place before and after the race and cheered each other on as they crossed the finish line.

As people walked, shopped, ate and conversed along Main Street, they were treated to music throughout the day, which was played by different artist. The music ranged from rock, country and bluegrass.

At noon people cleared the street for a special parade, “The Kiddy Parade.” For 50 cents to enter, a child could enter in either a, best homesteader, best with pets, miscellaneous, or fairytales costume competition.

Once all the children had entered and shown off their costume, they all marched down and back up Main Street, so everyone could take pictures and the children could show off their creativity.

Some entries were a team effort and one family, the Wrobleskie Children, five total, all dressed as frontiersmen and won first place in the homesteader category.

The winner off the best with pets category was Ryan Vandenbussche. Olivia Kubesh won the miscellaneous category and the fairytale winner was Emma Vandenbussche.

Once the Kiddy Parade was over the children went over to the park at the corner of Main Street and Spring Street to partake in some games, such as three legged races and other races.

There were other little events throughout the afternoon, including the museum being open, a ducky race, and a car show behind the school, which eventually drove through the town and down Main Street for judging. All the while, different bands and artists played on the stage across from Fergies.

Eventually the festivities moved over to the rodeo, which took three hours and then everyone traveled back to Main Street and the music and celebration continued late into the night.

Sunday, there was a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Lodge. There was music from 11:00pm to 12:00pm and at 12:00pm the main parade commenced.

There was firetrucks, police vehicles, a member of the Salish community, 4-H members, the Boonies and original homesteaders in the parade, which went up and down Main Street.

From there everyone traveled to the rodeo grounds for the conclusion of the festivities and celebrations.