BATTLEFORDS — July 3 to Aug. 11 marks the dog days of summer. While the previous phrase may be an idiom referring to Greek and Roman mythology, this past weekend was certainly one of the hottest events-wise in the area since the pandemic began over two years ago.
From the arts, to county music, to Pride Week, to sports, the Battlefords was buzzing with activity on the third weekend of July.
Internationally-acclaimed local products Cole Knuston and Jaya Hoy returned to Third Avenue United Church for the second consecutive week, this time putting on a duet piano recital for those in attendance. The former piano teacher-student combo now colleagues and friends wowed audiences with an afternoon of worldly talent that those across the globe (including London, United Kingdom) have been able to experience.
The first annual country cowboy gospel music presentation took place on July 23 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 9 in Battleford.
While music was ringing in the legion, others were on the road taking in the Prairie Art Road Trip. With more than 15 activities and pieces of significance listed on the trip’s WordPress page, the six-hour trip saw participants visit four different venues to check out various art, artists, artisans, studios, a flower farm, and an alpaca farm in west central Saskatchewan.
The U18 North Battleford Beavers hosted the 2022 18U AA Tier 2 Provincials 8-Team Championship over this past weekend. North Battleford was grouped with the Estevan Brewers, Saskatoon Athletics, and White Butte Broncos in pool play. Battleford, who had a large number of players much younger than 18 on the roster, battled it out. The team lost their first two contests to Saskatoon and Estevan respectively, before defeating White Butte on July 23 by a final score of 11-5. Three of the four Saskatoon entries reached Sunday’s semifinals, with the Saskatoon Blue Jays topping the Saskatoon Cardinal Sluggers 6-4 to claim the championship.
In other sports, the Shoot for the Worlds 3D fun shoot took place at the Archery Club in Battleford on July 23. All money raised will help Jay Djukic and Blair St. Amant travel to Italy for the Shoot Worlds 3D Archery Championships in September.
Pride Week, which began with the painting of the sidewalks both in Battleford and North Battleford respectively wrapped up this past weekend. On July 23, Battlefords Pride had their parade begin and end at Kinsmen Park, where following the parade, those who took in the grounds were treated to festivities all day and long into the evening. The circus family fun event began at 2 p.m., with airbrush tattoos, vendors, and face painting among the various forms of entertainment provided. Taking to the stage were Dr. Von Hooligan, Dance Whitecalf, and Gypsy Moonbird. Singer-songwriter LJ Tyson was the featured headline, with his new release, “Home On A Rainbow”, a fitting tribute to the celebration. Pride Week concluded with the Prairie Invasion Tour by YXE Drags Collective on July 24, with a family-friendly show at 7 p.m. followed by an adult show at 9 p.m.
While the weekend was hectic in some ways, it shows that this community is more than capable of playing host to a number of small and large-scale events at the same time. If the opportunities are there, people will come.
