It was a busy weekend in Havre with cornucopia of activities

Things were hopping in Havre over the weekend with a slew of events coming together to make a wealth of activities in which people could participate, and event organizers seem pleased with the results.

Saturday morning started with the Second Annual Bear Paw Marathon - see full results on Monday's sports page, B1 - and the annual North Central Hangar Association Air Fair 2022 fly-in breakfast at the Havre City-County Airport and and included Living History events at Fort Assinniboine and Havre Beneath the Streets, the Spring Celebration at Havre's Art Alley and Everything Antique that ran Friday through Sunday at the Great Northern Fairgrounds.

The Everything Antique show offered a variety of displays to people over its three-day run, including an antique threshing machine, displays of engines, antique tractors - and Big Bud tractors manufactured in Havre, including the Big Bud 747, the largest tractor in the world - and cars and a spinning-wheel demonstration put on by Keri Woodwick of Havre.

Air Fair 2022 saw well more than 200 people at the Havre City-County Airport, where they could view private aircraft and model airplanes and talk to the pilots, as well as get airplane rides for kids, eat breakfast and participate in some of the fun, including a candy drop.

The wet weather held off for the day so local pilots Chase Stoner and Jake Phillips, along with some help from Willie Hurd and Darold Hutchinson, could take youth up to 18 years old for free flights around the area. Hurd, the North Central Hangar president, said they gave 169 youth flights - with the total reflecting some kids going up more than once.

A few pilots took part in the sky bowling game, and Scott Snider of Snider Helicopter Service in Turner also gave a demonstration of helicopter spraying, like would be done for a spraying crops, and showed how maneuverable a helicopter is.

Fort Assinnibone Preservation Association Chair Ron VandenBoom said, despite the multiple activities going on Saturday, the Living History event at the fort was busy.

"We still managed to give six tours on the Black Jack Wagon to 72 guests," he said.

The event offered a free meal of pulled pork with pork-and-beans and chips as well as cookies and raised $271 in free will donations for the meal, he added. 

"The (Bullhook Bottoms) Blackpowder Club was a fantastic attraction and the children loved being able to pull the cord that fired their cannon," VandenBoom said. "We had three mounted reenactors travel from as far away as Glasgow and Billings impress our visitors with their beautiful horses and authentic uniforms. 

"Those who attended were able to enter four of the original fort building and get a sense of the true history, significance and history of this authentic attraction," he said, adding that the board members are always impressed with the number of "thanks" received from our visitors. 

They are also impressed by the quality and knowledge of the tour guides, even to the point of applauding after their tour, he added.

VandenBoom said many thanks need to be given the many people that contribute their time and money to provide a successful event, including the preservation association's board members, the reenactors, members of the black powder club and the people who prepared and helped dish out the lunch.

And the second Art Alley Spring Celebration, organized by the Art and Beautification Committee of Downtown Havre Matters! and the Hi-Line Arts Council, was touted as a success, with Debbie Vandeberg of the Arts and Beautification Committee saying they estimate at least as many people went through as at its inaugural event last year.

"From the start to the finish, there were people walking the alley, exploring the mural art project taking place, hosted by the Havre Art Association," she said. "They started their tribute mural to Mary Nault, a friend to many in the art association and Havre.

"Many 'little artists' enjoyed the two murals they could paint on through out the afternoon," Vandeberg added, saying the first door art project in the alley, an astronaut, also was completed, by Jillian Allen, on the alley door to Crawford's Distillery.

And, Vandeberg said, the live music was a big hit, including Dr. Terrence Hankins playing piano and accompanied by local musicians in the alley and with Blind Luck kicked off the music on the Fourth Avenue stage, followed by Lucky Valentine from Fort Benton and wrapping up with Havre's Milk River Band.

Grant Olson of the Hi-Line Arts Council also said the "live music wafting around downtown ... was a highlight of the celebration. We had such a great group of musicians lined up and they all were on fire."

Olson said a good number of people wandered through all day listening to music and watching or helping create art in the alley. He said he is especially excited about the Art Association mural honoring the work of Nault.

Vandeberg said, as part of its grand reopening, Havre Hardware also served more than 300 hot dogs and barbecued sandwiches to people at the event.

Both Vandeberg and Olson thanked the primary sponsors, Independence Bank and Tilleman Motor Co., for making sure the event could be free of charge.

"I am always so thankful to all of the volunteers and local businesses that give so much of their time and resources to contribute to events like this," Olson added.

Vandeberg said plans already are being made for next year's event.