Centennial theme highlights C.F. celebration
Columbia Falls marks the 100th anniversary of its incorporation this weekend at Heritage Days 2009.
"Celebrating Our Centennial" will be the theme from the opening of the farmers' market at 5 p.m. today until the last ball drops into the cup at the Wildcat Endowment Golf Tourney around midday Sunday.
Two nights of rodeo, the ever-popular fireman's breakfast, a Saturday noon parade, a wild horse drive, and a line-up of dances will help fill in the fun for the rest of the weekend.
As a bonus, Columbia Falls Swim Team will host 400 to 500 competitors at the Western Divisional Swim Meet at Pinewood Park pool Saturday and Sunday.
This year's Heritage Days buttons, at $1 apiece, include four mystery buttons that will be worth $100 gift cards at Super 1 or Smith's grocery stores, or $50 gift cards at Mike's Conoco or Town Pump.
Buy them at just about any Columbia Falls business or at Saturday's information booth. This year, you need not be present to win.
Today
An ever-growing farmers' market at Glacier Discovery Square in uptown Columbia Falls on Nucleus Avenue serves as the unofficial lead-in to the celebration from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Walk down the hill to Marantette Park on U.S. 2 for this week's Lions Club concert at 8 p.m., with music from the Flathead Community Band; Al and Bonnie Lindborg offer a 7 p.m. warm-up.
Friday
Grills fire up at 5 p.m. next to the Columbia Bar on Nucleus Avenue for the eighth annual Wildcat Athletic Endowment Fund Barbecue and Auction, where $8 buys a full meal until 7 p.m.
Silent auction items run all night, and a live auction starts at 6 p.m.
The NRA rodeo gets rolling at 7 p.m. in the Trumbull Creek Rodeo Grounds behind the Blue Moon Nite Club; it repeats at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday
Start off at 7 a.m. with the volunteer firemen's pancake breakfast in the Don Anderson Fire Hall on First Avenue West, then stay for the 3-on-3 Basketball Tourney beginning at 8 a.m. and Boogie to the Bank foot races up the North Fork Road, starting at Glacier Discovery Square at 8:30 a.m.
Arts, crafts and food vendors set up at 9 a.m. for a day at the square, with more to be found at Marantette Park throughout the day.
Line dancing and lunch start at 10 a.m. at North Valley Senior Center a couple blocks up Nucleus Avenue. Rocky Mountain Street Machines will have a show-and-shine at Glacier Bank throughout the day.
Parade line-up starts at 11 a.m. on Railroad Street at the north end of Nucleus. This year the Kiddie Parade will be joined with the main parade along Nucleus Avenue, starting at noon. Anyone can enter for free.
Cowboys will drive a herd of "wild" horses along U.S. 2 from the waterslide area east of town over to the Blue Moon arena west of town around 2 p.m.
Marantette Park will be the setting for Montana Old Time Fiddlers from 2 to 4 p.m., Shire of Crystal Crags' Medieval demonstrations, rock climbing, bouncy-house fun and magic by Dan Jimmerson at 5:30 p.m.
At 4 p.m. a Larchwood Regatta runs between the U.S. 2 bridge and Red Bridge on the Flathead River.
A couple of dances start at 7 p.m. A teen dance in Glacier Gateway Elementary runs until 10 p.m., with the Boys and Girls Club helping organize it.
At Marantette Park there's a fund-raiser and food-drive concert and dance for the Columbia Falls Food Bank, featuring bluegrass, Americana and country-rock from Canyon Creek Ramblers. Cash or food donations will get you in the venue.
Sunday
Everyone is invited to a community church service in Marantette Park starting at 9:30 a.m.
A 9 a.m. shotgun start signals the beginning of play in the annual Wildcat Athletic Endowment Golf Tourney at Glacier View Golf Course in West Glacier, with a barbecue lunch following.
For full details, check the Heritage Days Web site at www.cfallsheritagedays.com