By Glenda Eagleman Wells
Havre's annual Festival Days celebration will begin this weekend as planned, but with a few changes in recognition of the terrorist attack on America.
The annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast won't be held in the National Guard Armory on Second Street West. The National Guard is on ready status and the Montana armories have restricted access. The breakfast has been moved to the VFW club.
Those who attend Havre High School's homecoming football game against Glendive on Friday night will observe a moment of silence for those killed in the terrorist attack. The Rev. Steve Flatau of the Assembly of God Church will sing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." The observance will be reminiscent of a Havre boys basketball game during the Gulf War when Flatau sang the song.
Sunday in the Park will also have a moment of silence in memory of the thousands killed. Flatau will lead the moment of silence and will sing the Greenwood song and another patriotic selection, beginning at 2:15 p.m. at the Montana State University-Northern Student Union Building.
As in years past, highlights of Festival Days will include a 48-hour softball tournament, a parade, which will include the Pet and Doll Parade, the E-1 Towing Demolition Derby, a dance, featuring Nervis Norvis and the Nasty Nerds, the Festival Run/Walk, and Sunday in the Park.
The 48-hour softball tournament starts Friday at 6 p.m. and runs until Sunday at 6 p.m. A total of 14 teams are competing. Six teams are from out of town and the rest are from Havre.
The Kiwanis pancake breakfast, a tradition since 1954, is on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VFW. The Kiwanis will serve all you can eat for $4 for adults and $2 for children.
The Festival Days Parade this year will have a different route. It will line up at Havre High School and begin at 10 a.m. from Rod's Drive-Inn. It will then proceed north on Fifth Avenue. But rather than go down First Street, it will move down Second Street, as a matter of safety. Included in the parade is a pet and doll parade hosted by IGA. Children 12 and under can bring their pet or doll and walk in the parade. First place in the children's parade wins a pedal car and second wins 12 free movie rentals. All participants will receive a goodie bag courtesy of IGA.
The demolition derby will run Saturday at the Hill County Fairgrounds. It starts at 3 p.m. and will continue until 9 or 10 p.m.
Nervis Norvis and the Nasty Nerds will entertain at the Hockey Ice Dome from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. The charge is $10 at the door and $9 with a Havre Festival Days button in advance. The doors will open at 8 p.m. and admission includes a hamburger, chips, and a drink.
On Sunday, the Festival Run/Walk will begin registration at 9 a.m. at the MSU-Northern campus. The 5-kilometer race will start at 10 a.m. and the one-mile will start at 11 a.m.
Sunday in the Park will be from noon to 4 p.m., including kids' games and a barbecue.
The grand-prize drawing for the Festival Days buttons will be held at the Sunday in the Park celebration. Two grand prize winners will receive Northwest Airlines plane tickets good for travel anywhere in the continental United States through June 30. To enter the grand prize drawing, people must wear their Festival Days button in Magic Carpet Travel to pick up an entry form.
The Hi-Line Quilt Guild's Festival of Quilts will be at the Holiday Village Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The show will display bed quilts, wall hangings and table runners, and will have demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. Six vendors will participate in the show.
The show features a silent auction, ending Sunday at 3 p.m. It also features a raffle for a queen-sized quilt, "Southern Wedding Ring." Tickets are available at the Silver Thimble and Crazy Quilters as well as at the show, for $3 each or two for $5.
Entry forms may be dropped off at the Silver Thimble and Crazy Quilters.
The Havre Wrestling Club is selling raffle tickets at $5 each to match the numbers on 1,000 rubber ducks it will launch into the Milk River at 10 a.m. Sunday for its annual duck race. The ticket matching the winning duck will receive $500, second-place takes $300 and third-place wins $150. The players need not be present to win.
Crafters will display their wares at the Hill County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The show features a variety of handmade crafts, including woodworking, ceramics, floral displays, folk art and ornaments.
