Schools and workplaces may be in "vacation-mode" this month and through August, but this doesn't mean there isn't anything to do, contrary to claims from children that they're "bored".
As it happens, there are many activities, events and celebrations ongoing through the summer to engage persons of all ages, and this time can serve to help us learn about our neighbours in the town and villages of our region, and of our province.
Just in the Weyburn region, there are some interesting and exciting events in the coming weeks suitable for entertaining people of all ages. For example, coming up this weekend is Creelman's "Biggest Little Fair", which has been going for 108 years now, not to mention the Weyburn Ag Society's professional rodeo, running from July 20 to 22.
If music of various genres is more what a person is yearning for, head west to Bengough for their eighth annual Gateway Festival, which runs July 27-29.
Midale's annual Threshing Days, with the opening of their heritage museum village, will be held on the weekend of August 18-19.
Weyburn's annual Wheat Festival is a summer tradition on the second weekend of August; it's different again from the Weyburn Fair which started the summer off, as the Wheat Fest will focus on the Heritage Village, and will include the annual Horticultural Show, which this year is a provincial judged show to be held at the Knox Hall.
Outside of organized events like these are many attractions that are worth checking out, including the Heritage Village, Soo Line Historical Museum and Turner Curling Museum, all in Weyburn; and regional parks, such as Nickle Lake, Oungre Memorial, Ogema, Radville, Ceylon and Mainprize Regional parks, all offering unique reasons to check out and learn about the local area.
For train buffs, or those hankering back to an earlier era, there is the Southern Prairie Railway based out of Ogema, offering themed train rides on the Red Coat Road and Rail, which is the short-line railway extending from Pangman to Assiniboia.
Looking to the east, there is the Moose Mountain provincial park, White Bear Lake, and the attractions in that area. This is just for starters; the province of Saskatchewan offers a great many more variety of attractions and activities, whether it's bird-watching, sunbathing or fishing. - Greg Nikkel
