Wawota Heritage Days brought together young and old in a celebration of their community on August long weekend.
Events began on Friday, Aug. 1 and ran through to Sunday, Aug. 3. The event was a collective effort amongst numerous groups and individuals in town.
The Wawota Business Enhancement Group (WBEG) organized the Friday Family Fun Night at the Forum.
Here High Impact Wrestling out of Regina stopped in to entertain at Rumble in Wawota. Excitement grew and as families filtered through the door, youngsters ran to grab a front row seat for the action.
As the competitors were introduced cheering and booing were heard from the stands as the audience chose their favourites.
Two locals volunteered to get in the ring and although they never actually fought, Garth Brisbois and Dexter Mondor did banter in the ring a bit.
The night was followed by a family dance and fireworks at the Forum.
Shannon Houff, President of the WBEG and owner of Front Porch Interiors, explained that it was their way of adding to the Heritage Days while also fundraising for a large project WBEG is currently working towards.
"We have a new development in town," Houff explained. "We want to build up the rec area, add camping because the campsites are always full, and just overall beautification."
Overall plans for the improvement project will take between three and five years to complete with fundraising already underway.
The plans not only include extra camping sites, but will focus on land development including a pathway, benches, and playground.
After explaining the plans of WBEG, Houff went on to say that the entire Heirtage Weekend is something that couldn't have been successful without the dedicated volunteers working together.
Saturday's festivities also brought in a crowd beginning with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Legion in Town Hall. Here a trade show and silent auction were also set up for the crowd to peruse.
Across from Town Hall at the Drop-in Centre arts and crafts created by local artists were displayed and celebrated. While found along Main Street at the Museum was a collectors exhibition.
Excitement filled the streets at 11 a.m. as youth prepared to capture candy tossed by approximately 80 entrants in the parade. From emergency vehicles to antique cars and tractors to traditional floats the parade was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
One creative float included a "hillbilly-esque" float created by the Duff Family Reunion which carried not only people dressed as hillbillies, but one barbequing a pig roast.
Shawna Cudmore, organizer, was pleased with the number of entries in the parade overall and explained numbers were similar to those entered last year.
She was also found facilitating the Kids Carnival with help from volunteers. Here numerous fair games were enjoyed by youth, bouncers were set up to enjoy, and a dinosaur dig was planned for 2 p.m. Small dinosaur figurines were buried in sand at the school playground.
In addition to these activities a petting zoo was enjoyed by many, with young children getting a chance to see a donkey, goats, bunnies, chinchillas, chickens, and more.
Also found at the school yard was the SGI Safety Squad from Regina there to go over bicycle safety and road safety with youth, while the Moose Mountain Provincial Park interpreters also set up a booth for kids to learn and play games.
Smiles were found on children's faces as they won prizes and came face-to-face with a variety of animals.
Lunch could be found in the Town Hall parking lot where vendors were set up selling pulled pork buns, hamburgers, hotdogs, N'DN Tacos, and more. Local groups including the grad class of 2015 and the Raise the Roof group were fundraising through this means.
Nestled behind Town Hall is the skate park where Freedom Tour Skate Jam was held. Here a demonstration was held by B3 Snow and Skate out of Yorkton. Before the demo was held, the B3 team provided a short clinic for youth interested in their first experience on a skateboard or in nailing down that one elusive trick they'd been attempting.
Just down the road from here a show 'n shine was set up with cars, trucks, and tractors displayed. Here entertainment ensued with a Couples Driving Challenge. Here couples drove through a course where the driver was blindfolded and dependant on instructions given by the passenger.
Saturday coalesced in Wawota Parkland School's 10 year, 20 year, and 30 year reunions. Many attending Wawota Heritage Days expressed their appreciation of the weekend and how it makes for a fantastic time to catch up with old friends.
As Sunday came around brunch was hosted by the Legion, while a church service welcomed many to Centennial Memorial Park at 11 a.m. which was followed by a potluck.
The weekend then came to a close with a high tea and fashion show at Town Hall between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. where Mando Group performed.
Overall the organizers and volunteers were pleased with the weekend.
