As summer heats up in the valley, it’s time to head to the hills.
There’s not a better day to be found than in mountains of the St. Joe River Valley, sitting by one of the refreshing creeks, casting a fly rod in one of the rivers’ many fishing holes or picking huckleberries along a sunny slope.
August is prime time to visit St. Maries and all its scenic playground has to offer.
If the success was measured by the smiles on the faces of the children at the Mid-Summer Family Fun Day at St. Maries City Park, the weekend was nothing less than fabulous!
The smART Festival, St. Joe Valley Car Club’s Car Show-n-Shine and the Grass Drags are behind us, but there are still dozens community events planned for our beautiful valley.
Saturday is Pioneer Day in Fernwood, with fireman’s breakfast, parade, horseshoe tournament, bingo, bake sales and an auction.
This weekend is also the St. Maries Saddle Club Horse Show and O-Mok-See at Benewah County Fairgrounds arena. There is plenty of shade for spectators to watch the talented riders and their horses compete for ribbons and prizes. Concessions will be available too.
Saturday and Sunday Xmas Hills will be the site of the 2012 Endurance Scramble. Registration is Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. The children’s races start at 9 a.m. and the big bikes at noon, Saturday & Sunday.
And there’s so much more you can do on the rivers or in the mountains!
Whether you’re in town to for the horse show, spending the day UpRiver’s Pioneer Days or the Endurance Scramble at Xmas Hills, biking, fishing or floating the river, make the most of your weekend with a trip to St. Maries.
ST. MARIES HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS WEEKEND …
… AND WE HAVE THE SCHEDULE TO PROVE IT:
ST. JOE VALLEY SHOW-N-SHINE – Upper City Park
FRIDAY, JULY 20
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Registration for open cruise in the IGA Parking Lot
6:30 p.m. Cruise from IGA Parking Lot to 14th Street and back through town. Cars will be announced at Les Schwab.
SATURDAY, JULY 21
8 a.m. to Noon Show-N-Shine Registration in the City Park
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open Show-N-Shine, City Park
1:00 p.m. Blow Up Cop Car Engine
3:00 p.m. Presentation of Awards
3:00 p.m. Draw Tickets for Shriner’s Gun Raffle
All Day NASCAR Tire Changing Contest & Chicken Dropping Contest, Food Booth – Hamburgers, Sausages from Scheffelmaiers, Beer Garden, Our Famous Onions & Mushrooms, Vendor Booths – Scentsy, Paparazzi Jewelry & Handbags
8:30 p.m. Dance the night away to the fabulous Kingpins, $5 per person. Must be 21 years old to attend.
s.m.ART FESTIVAL– Cherry Bend Boaters Park
SATURDAY, JULY 21
7:30 a.m. Kiwanis Breakfast
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art Booths featuring pottery, photography, stained glass, fused glass, jewelry, paintings, drawings, metal sculptures & more.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hands-on Adult Assisted Creative Experience for Children 4-12
11 a.m. St. Maries Community Band
12:15 p.m. PJ Destiny Performs
1:15 p.m. Performance by St. Maries Community Choir
2:30 p.m. Performance by Roberson, Beese & Flores with Tom Lamb
3:30 p.m. Daniel Compton Performs.
5 to 8 p.m. Jam Band Concert
All Day Silent Auction, Beer and Wine Garden, Clothesline Art Sales and Craft Vendors
SUNDAY, JULY 22
7:30 a.m. Kiwanis Breakfast
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art Booths featuring pottery, photography, stained glass, fused glass, jewelry, paintings, drawings, metal sculptures & more.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hands-on Adult Assisted Creative Experience for Children 4-12
11 a.m. PJ Destiny Performs
Noon All That Jazz Performance
3:30 p.m. Canned Music
All Day Silent Auction, Beer and Wine Garden, Clothesline Art Sales and Craft Vendors
MID SUMMER FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL – Lower City Park
SATURDAY, JULY 21
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. All events in lower City Park
9 a.m. Register for BBQ Cook-Off
NOON Watermelon Eating Contest
1 p.m. & 2 p.m. Mechanical Bull Riding Contest (Teen & Adult Divisions)
3:30 p.m. Frog Queen Coronation
4 p.m. BBQ Cook-Off Judging
All Day Live Entertainment, Children’s Activities, Ladder Golf, Minute-To-Win-It, Activities for the Entire Family, Prize Drawings, 4 Fun 50/50 Raffle, Frog Races, Bouncy Castle, Schwan’s Ice Cream & More, Fabulous Crafts for Kids 11 & under, Great Food
SUMMER SUCKS GRASS DRAGS – Hay field on Lumberjack Lane
FRIDAY, JULY 20
3 to 8 p.m. Pre-registration. Cost $35
SATURDAY, JULY 21
7 to 9:30 a.m. Regular Registration. Costs $40
10 a.m. Races Start
All Day Camping Spaces Available, Beer Garden, Food Vendors, Merchandise Available
SUNDAY, JULY 22
10 a.m. Races Start
ALL DAY Camping Spaces Available, Beer Garden, Food Vendors, Merchandise Available
And as I’ve said before, there is a whole lot of happenings in St. Maries this weekend.
The weekend events start Friday night with the St. Joe Valley Car Club’s old fashion cruise through Main at 6PM and runs through Sunday at 5PM when the smART Festival at Cherry Bend closes another year.
Between the events sponsored by the St. Joe Valley Car Club, the St. Maries Council for the Arts, the St. Joe Snow Riders and the St. Maries Rotary Club there is something for everyone, and I do mean everyone.
One event is the Rotary’s second annual Mid-Summer Family Fun Festival in the lower portion of City Park near the Little League fields. The Festival alone has dozens of events and attractions. There are Jump Houses for the children, and dozens of contests, including frog races, a barbeque cook-off, watermelon eating and mechanical bull riding. There are some terrific door prizes and a lot of great fun.
Buy a 50/50 raffle ticket at any of the four events, have it stamped at the car show, the art festival, grass drags and the family festival, and qualify to enter the raffle for half the take of all tickets sold. It could add up to some cool cash in your pocket, but regardless who wins the the raffle, everyone is guaranteed to find something to fin their idea of fun this weekend!
But have no fear, the weekend’s coming!
And what perfect weather for a perfect weekend in St. Maries!
Looking to play some golf? How about the St. Maries Shriners’ annual tournament? The four-person scrabble begins at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at the beautiful St. Maries Golf Course. For more information you can call Marvin Wheeler, 689-9171 or call Connie at the club house, 245-3842.
It’s a great event, sponsored by great people, for great causes.
That’s just one more thing added to an already busy weekend lineup in St. Maries this weekend.
Don’t forget the Rotary Club’s Mid-Summer Family Fun Day at the lower section of City Park, while the St. Joe Car Club Show-n-Shine is in the upper section. There’s also the Summer Sucks Grass Drags a half-mile from town at Meadowhurst and the annual smART Festival at Cherry Bend Boater’s Park on the St. Joe River where the St. Maries Kiwanians will be serving up some mighty fine eats.
Don’t you just love summer!
