Colourful costumes and cultural connections will highlight the annual Gold Eagle Casino Powwow Sakicawasihk 2013 underway today, July 9, with the Grant Entry at 2 p.m. The powwow will run through Wednesday and Thursday as well, with grand entries those days at noon. The event is located at the North Battleford exhibition grounds. Among the dance categories are Golden Age, Senior Adult, Junior Adult, Men's Fancy and Men's Chicken, Teen, Junior and Tiny Tots with prizes ranging from $50 to $1,000. The drum contest prizes range from $500 to $7,000. There will also be a Princess/Little Warrior pageant. A Buckskin Dance is also expected, as well as other special events to be announced "at the place where the rivers come together."
Saturday will see another kind of coming together. The Canadian Legion of Riders presents the Ride for a Vet poker rally July 13. Registration will be at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 70 in North Battleford at 8:30 a.m. and breakfast will be running from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The ride starts at 10 a.m. and bikers will ride to the Meota Rink. A dance will follow in the evening.
This weekend, A Century of Caring marks a reunion of Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford current and former employees and other interested parties. Reunion activities run from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14. There will be a 100th anniversary party free to the general public on the front lawn of the hospital Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be anniversary cake, entertainment, food and games.
If you have an itch to dance this weekend, head out to Hafford. The 17th annual PolkaFest is on in the Hafford and District Communiplex on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 12, 13 and 14. Friday starts with a jam session and dancing from 3 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday the dancing goes from 1 p.m. to midnight with Ralph's Rhythm Kings, Phoenix and The Hamps providing the music. Sunday, there will be a pancake breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. then the dancing gets underway, ending at 4:30 p.m. Music Sunday will be provided by Phoenix and The Hamps. There are advance tickets available, but they are also available at the door. The food concession will be open all weekend and there will be free RV parking. Best of all, the dance hall is air conditioned!
