Plains Day theme: 'Not just community, We are Family'

This coming weekend, June 7, Plains will host the much-anticipated annual Plains Day.  

With the streets lined with excited residents and visitors from nearby communities, the event will be a true celebration of local spirit, food and entertainment. From a lively parade to friendly competitions and mouth-watering food, the festival will have something for everyone.

The festivities begin with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., sponsored by USA Kids at the VFW, and an ice cream social at the Stockman Bank.  

Then there will be a spectacular parade led by Studs Building and Home’s patriotic float and flag raising to the “Star Spangled Banner” that will make its way down the main street of town at 11 a.m. with Grand Marshal, Betty Meyer, a 100-year-old Army veteran of World War II riding in a 100-year-old refinished Ford Model T, thanks to Ken Mathiesen.  

Floats representing local businesses, schools and community organizations will be highlights, adorned with colorful banners, streamers and even a few mascots dancing along the route while our town residents and visitors will line the streets to cheer on their favorite participants. The parade provides a joyful introduction to the day’s festivities. 

Once the parade wraps up, festivalgoers can meander through rows of vibrant vendor booths scattered throughout the Greenway and the Dental Park on the opposite side of Montana 200; thanks to the Montana West Dentist donating their grass areas and paved parking lot to the town festivities. You will be able to find handmade jewelry, wood furniture and art, homemade candles, soaps, lotions, jams, sauces, blankets, clothing, knives, toys, knitted items, flags etc.  

There will be every type of food you love including BBQ, Asian food, blondies specialties, tacos, Hawaiian style food, Mexican street corn, muffins, breads coffee hot or cold, ice cream, fresh kettle corn, huckleberry lemonade and more, making it hard to resist a snack or two. 

What would a small-town festival be without some friendly competition? 

Kids, start hunting for your fastest turtle for the Turtle Race on Plains Day sponsored by and held at Stockman Bank. 

The pie-eating contest will be a crowd favorite with 10 lucky contestants to be drawn from a hat to try to dive into delicious chocolate cream pies baked and donated by Em’s Café faster than the other contestants. Sign up at Em's Cafe.

The watermelon eating contests will be held in the Dental Park also, making it easy for vendor goers to mosey on over to the watermelon competition.  

Big thank you to The Alliance Church for all they are doing including the watermelon contest, bouncy house, cotton candy, and chairs for the audiences to rest on and enjoy the entertainment. 

Another attraction will be the annual Rehbein Ford Car Show on the East Greenway this year. 

Singers all day long with the Clark Fork Singers from Thompson Falls starting off the entertainment, and Coy, Charlie and the Late Bloomers from Polson giving two hours of their mix of country, and americana music will keep the folks entertained as they shop.  

Later, Dave Proctor of Thompson Falls will croon to crowds with his guitar.  And if that wasn’t enough, there will be a Karaoke competition at 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., so all you singers tune up your talents in the shower to prepare for this great opportunity to belt out your favorite songs for the town. From country to rock classics and more, Ray Brown will have all those songs available for you to sing. Competition will be stiff.

This day is about celebrating who we are, and it gets better every year. It is amazing to see everyone come together for a day of fun and tradition. With full stomachs, bright smiles and a lot of memories, Plains Day once again will prove that sometimes the best way to celebrate is with people who make the town what it is – friendly, fun and full of heart.