Havre Festival Days are just around the corner

Havre Festival Days begin on Sept. 20, and there are some things people need to know in advance.

Festival of Quilts

The Hi-Line Quilt Guild's fall show will again take place during Festival Days at the Holiday Village Shopping Center.

People attending the show will see traditional bed quilts, wall hangings and table runners.

Three will be demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. Six vendors also will be participating in the float.

A large queen-size quilt called "Petticoats and Prairie," made by the local quilt guild, will be raffled off during the show. Raffle tickets are $3 each or two for $5. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the show, at either quilt store or from any quilt guild member. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn about 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

A silent auction will be held during the show and will end Sunday at 3 p.m.

Entry forms are available and can be dropped off at the Quilters Addiction and at Crazy Quilters. Anyone may enter a quilt. Entries are due by Wednesday.

Mugs

Havre Festival Days mugs are on sale at participating businesses for $5. Local participating taverns will offer 50-cent refills of the mugs from 6 p.m. Sept. 20 through Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.

Kiwanis Pancake Day

The Kiwanians are heading into their fifth decade of flipping pancakes for the community of Havre.

The Kiwanis cook pancakes and sausage to raise money to support community youth projects.

The pancake feed will be the National Guard Armory on West Second Street. Serving will start at 7 a.m. on Sept. 21will continue until 2 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for preschool.

Festival Days buttons

Magic Carpet Travel has partnered with the Havre Festival Days Committee again this year to promote Havre Festival Days buttons.

In keeping with the theme, "A Celebration of Havre's Heritage," a trivia quiz has been compiled about Havre. The winner of the trivia contest will win gift certificates and prizes donated by local merchants.

Trivia contest forms can be picked up at Magic Carpet Travel by those wearing Havre Festival Days buttons. The contest will start Monday and go through 4 p.m. on Sept. 20. Each correctly completed entry form will be eligible for the contest when returned to Magic Carpet Travel.

Wearing a button into Magic Carpet Travel also gives the wearer a chance to win a travel voucher. Entry forms for the voucher drawing can be filled out there.

The winner of the button trivia contest and the travel voucher will be announced at the ribbon cutting at the Town Square on Sept. 20. The travel voucher will be good for travel anywhere in the continental United States.

Only 2,000 buttons are available. For those who collect Havre Festival Days buttons, buttons have been set aside and picked up at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce office. Buttons are selling for $1 and can be purchased at many local businesses.

Festival Days Parade

A highlight of this year's Festival Days Parade will be a special appearance by the Wells Fargo stagecoach and horse team. Also, several Shrine units from the Shriners' state convention, held that weekend in Havre, will participate.

The parade will be Sept. 21.

The theme is "A Celebration of Havre's Heritage." Certificates will be awarded in three categories: Mayor's Choice, Best Overall Theme (commercial), and Best Overall Theme (non-commercial). The mayor's choice float will receive a plaque and will be listed on the trophy plaque hanging in the Chamber office.

Contact the Chamber by Sept. 17 to enter a band, float or walking unit. There is no fee to enter.

Lineup is at Havre High School with the parade starting at 10 a.m. at Rod's Drive Inn. The parade route will follow Fifth Avenue north to Second Street, and will turn west on Second Street, continue to Third Avenue and turn south on Third Ave. The parade will disassemble at the Hill County Courthouse.

The pet and doll parade will again be a part of the parade.

People are asked not to throw candy from floats but instead to have walkers who can toss candy toward the street gutters.

Great Ball Drop

On Sept. 21 following the parade, the Ambassadors of the Chamber will host a new event the Great Ball Drop on the steps of the courthouse about 12:30 p.m.

A total of 3,000 balls have been numbered to match a ticket with the same number. Purchase a ticket for $3, two for $5 and five for $10.

If your ball crosses the line first, you win $750. Second is $350; third, $200, and fourth place will pay $150.

Funds raised by the committee go to purchase holiday trees and decorations for several less fortunate families in Havre during Christmas.

Tickets may be purchased from any Chamber Ambassador or at the Chamber office.

Town Square

The Town Square Task Force is holding a ribbon cutting for the Town Square on Sept. 20 to kick off Festival Days.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. Havre's own Timely Trio will be on the program. "The Havre Song" will be a part of the ceremony. A pitchfork fondue dinner will follow at $15 a ticket. An RSVP is required. Money raised will go the Town Square.