Two much-anticipated events will again be back in the Battlefords next week as Agrimex and A Taste of Culture run from March 29 to 31.
Agrimex, the 27th annual farm, home and trade show, will run at the Agriplex and Agrivilla on those dates. A Taste of Culture, featuring food, entertainment and drinks from around the world, will run at the Western Development Museum.
The two events promise to be big attractions for North Battleford, bringing in consumers and food-lovers alike.
The Agrimex show is billed as the largest show in the area, attracting over 5,000 consumers from the Battlefords and surrounding area.
Battlefords Ag Society general manager Jocelyn Ritchie says we can expect over 120 booths for this year's event.
"There's a wide variety of everything from your home businesses, financial institutions, farm machinery, house ware, jewelry, just about anything you want to find," said Ritchie.
The hours are Thursday and Friday from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also a free pancake breakfast Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m. provided by Maple Leaf in the Agriplex.
Tickets are $3 and that allows visitors to take part in the door prizes with a potential jackpot of $1,500. Ritchie says there are also free passes available all over town that people can take advantage of. Kids six and under are free,
The Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre runs A Taste of Culture, which has expanded beyond its previous location at the Agrivilla and now is held at Western Development Museum.
This is the second year in a row for the event at that location, sponsored by Innovation Credit Union and SaskPower.
Immigration centre program manager Jennifer Niesink said "we have more food booths this year, and some of them are brand new." Niesink adds they will have "a really good entertainment lineup this year, as well."
The vendors will once again represent nationalities from all over the world.
A total of 16 booths will be set up at the event this year. Nationalities represented include China, India, Iraq, Italy, Korea, the Philippines, Ruthenia, Thailand, and Ukraine. Canada will be represented by booths celebrating both French Canada and the prairies.
A Taste of Culture's food booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Svoboda and Ukrainian Dancers plan to perform over the three days of the event. The Sakewew High School Dancers will be performing March 29 around 3 p.m., and the Meota Hobby Band will be on hand March 31.
The two entertainment headliners for the event will be Stereo Playground Friday from 8 to 10 p.m., and Pappa Bluez from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. Saturday has been designated Family Day with activities geared towards families and kids.
Admission for A Taste of Culture is $2 for a one-day pass and $5 for a three-day pass. Prices for the family are $7 for one day and $15 for three-day passes. Those age six and under are admitted free of charge
