While there’s always something to do and something to cover in southeast Saskatchewan, the summer is typically a quieter time in this area.
And that’s to be expected. You get this mad rush for everyone to get their events completed before the start of summer holidays, and once summer vacation does arrive, there’s a bit of a lull.
It’s not just the absence of the school beat events that results in a bit of a dip. There are fewer meetings happening, fewer press conferences and fewer announcements. (Even during a federal election year).
Many of the sports wrap up before the start of the summer, too, because they want to conclude before the first families are gone for summer holidays. (Those that are still going are usually finished by the end of July).
It’s understandable. People don’t want to spend all of this time planning events when upwards of 25 per cent of the community is out of town at one time.
So many people head to the lake each weekend, too. (Note to people new to the province: while many go to the lake, it’s not the same lake).
And a lot of the events in the summer are repeated. For example, you get the nightly performance by the Souris Valley Theatre for its main stage shows, or the camps for the different organizations in town (although each one has a different theme).
Fortunately, Estevan is blessed to have a lot of summer attractions, from the Woodlawn Regional Park and all of the amenities within the park, to the Estevan Motor Speedway, to the Souris Valley Museum, to so much more.
We never really experienced a lull this summer. Canada Day. 4-H Sales. The Rafferty Rumble. A host of activities the second weekend of August.
And if you’re expecting a slow-down in late August, forget about it. One of the busiest weekends of the summer is coming up, with the Estevan CCA Rodeo, and the host of activities always associated with the rodeo. (A parade, a light horse show, a mud run, a ranch rodeo and more).
You’ll also have the Estevan Police Service open house and the championship night for the Estevan Motor Speedway.
And there will be those last blast activities happening at the end of the summer, such as the playparks carnival at the Royal Heights Veterans’ Memorial Park.
Of course, when you do get all of these events happening, it makes the summer go by faster. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up for a discussion.
One of the really cool things about summer in southeast Saskatchewan is it seems like each community has something big that happens. It actually begins before summer, with the Lampman Sports Weekend in June.
Bienfait has its Canada Day celebrations. Numerous other communities from Oungre to Carnduff celebrate Canada’s birthday in style each year. Carlyle has its Fun Dayz. (As well as the host of activities associated with being in close proximity to Moose Mountain Provincial Park). Oxbow has the Bow Valley Jamboree. Midale has its activities during the August long weekend.
Even a community as small as Frobisher will offer its annual Thresherman’s Reunion for the public.
(We apologize for not listing all events in each community).
It just goes to show what the southeast region has to offer people, the different events, and the dedication of the volunteers who come together to make everything happen. Much like any other events, without the volunteers, nothing would happen.
There’s always something happening in southeast Saskatchewan. Often it’s within your community, but sometimes it helps just to look beyond your community’s borders.
