This is the third straight year the Estevan Mercury is proud to produce a special section for 101 Things to Do in the Southeast this Summer.
It’s one of our favourite publications of the year. It’s fun. It’s insightful. And it puts a spotlight on all that we have to offer during the summer months, whether it be in Estevan or elsewhere in the southeast.
We’ve found that one of the biggest challenges for this special is deciding the 101 Things to Do or experience each year. We think we could do so much more.
After all, this is the summer without COVID restrictions. Now, there weren’t any restrictions for most of last summer, but we didn’t know until just a few weeks before summer began that there wouldn’t be public health orders, so some organizations couldn’t make plans for an event in time.
This year, the last of the pandemic-related orders ended in February, so there has been time to make things happen.
We’ve had highlights already. Canada Day was terrific. A lot of communities had events to celebrate this wonderful country’s 155th birthday.
The temperatures have been warming up and we’ve been getting some heat after what was often a wet and cool spring. We’ve had some thunderstorms, but one of the things you can do during the summer months, if you’re game, is take photos of the lightning strikes and the crazy cloud formations associated with a thunderstorm.
If you’ve been in your community long enough, you know about the amenities offered. Most communities have some form of a campground, a golf course, a ball diamond and other options for outdoor recreation.
It’s not just Estevan that has a lot to offer or some great summer events. You’re likely going to find something to experience in the towns and villages, whether it be a town the size of Carlyle or a village as small as Frobisher.
Moose Mountain Provincial Park north of Carlyle has lots to offer for the public. It’s a place where you can enjoy camping, boating, kayaking, sailing, 1fishing, hiking and golfing. You have restaurants and accommodations to choose from, even if camping isn’t your thing.
Just to the south of the park you’ll find the White Bear First Nations and the White Bear Resort, which has plenty of attractions, too, and the Bear Claw Casino and Hotel, which is a popular destination for tourists and area residents alike. Expect to see a slate of activities at the casino this summer.
There are several regional parks to choose from in the southeast, each of which has numerous things to do. There are some pretty unique attractions in these parks, such as Fresh Air Fitness at Woodlawn Regional Park. And there are private campgrounds and golf courses eager to serve you, too.
If you’re into sports, you can take in a night of racing at the Estevan Motor Speedway or baseball and softball games. Provincial tournaments are happening in July and August, and the annual Harbourne Memorial Tournament, which crowns the champion of the Saskota Baseball League, is in Estevan on July 23 and 24.
If culture and history are your thing, there will typically be a museum in a community. Or you can typically find a library. Or you take in a performance at the Souris Valley Theatre, which will have its first live main-stage show since 2019.
And then there are the events. You won’t have to worry about donning a mask or crowd limitations this summer. The only issue might be whether something is sold out.
Each weekend, you’ll typically find a really fun event or two in the southeast – a street dance in Estevan, the Pioneer Echoes weekend in Midale, the Bow Valley Jamboree south of Oxbow, Fun Dayz in Carlyle, and so many more.
And there are activities for children. The City of Estevan’s playpark program has been around for years, offering free crafts and swimming for kids on weekdays during the summer months.
At the end of a busy day, you can always sit down and enjoy a tasty meal at one of the many great restaurants in the region.
So there’s always lots to do in the southeast in the summer months. And while we have a tough time keeping the list to just 101 items, it’s also tough to find time to do everything you’ll want to do this summer.
