The Yorkton Summer Fair was held last week in the city, the usual herald of the arrival of what is summer in this part of the world, July and August.
The annual exhibition is a tradition in this city, one stretching back decades.
It is easy to imagine a century ago, or so, early residents of Yorkton, then a community far from being a city, getting together with the idea of creating an event to bring people together to celebrate summer.
Back then it would have had more focus on being a place for local area people to show the best of what they grow; cattle, hogs, sheep, and, of course, produce from the garden and preserves from the pantry.
But times change, and so too has the fair.
Today the focus is much more on entertainment; the midway, Musical Ride, grandstands and grounds performers.
But the idea has remained the same, a gathering place to celebrate summer.
In that respect the Yorkton Fair is by no means unique.
There are events in communities big and small across the local region, province, country and in fact beyond our borders too.
It was only recently Rhein held its Sports Day, always a big event for that community, one where ball games are a regular highlight.
Down Highway 16 to the west, Summer Sizzle was held in Springside, complete with pancakes for breakfast, varied stage performances, and even the fun of lawnmower races.
The activities may vary from community to community, but it still comes down to a place to gather locally to enjoy the all too few days of summer.
In a world where we are all only a keyboard stroke away from seeing events around the world, and where paved highways and airplanes connect us in ways not imagined when the Yorkton Fair was born, it can be easy to discount local events as passé.
But we do a disservice to those who work hard to make sure local events continue to happen when we look at the results that way.
The local sports day might not offer what the Yorkton Fair does.
The Yorkton Fair won’t match that of Regina, or a state fair south of the 49th.
But they are still something we should be happy exist. They are the events we most easily share with our friends, and in so doing support local communities in the process.
So when local summer events come up on the calendar this summer head on out and enjoy what your neighbours have worked hard to create for your community.
