The town of Battleford promises to be the handcraft capital of Saskatchewan beginning next week.
For the 38th year the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival will be held. It runs from July 15 to 17 at the Alex Dillabough Centre, and will coincide with the Battleford parade and Fireworks set for July 15.
According to Amanda Bosiak of Saskatchewan Craft Council, about 29 different exhibitors have been confirmed for the event. Displays usually range from pottery and jewelry to art prints, basketry and weaving, glass, wood burning, candles and other handcrafts.
A few of the artists there will be familiar faces, some making their 34th appearance in a row. Those include jeweler Winston Quon and potters Ron and Rusty Kurenda.
There are plans to bring in buskers to provide musical entertainment, and plenty of food will be on hand as well. There are also plans to hold hourly raffles with exhibitors providing donations of some of their work as prizes in that draw. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 3 for $2.
Hours are from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission for adults is $5, youth and seniors $3, while children under 12 are free.
"One of the things I've found as I have been setting it up this year is just how supportive the Battleford community is about this event," said Bosiak. "It helps give this whole town and area that festival feel."
The event coincides with the annual Battleford Parade and Fireworks which will run the first night of the festival. The parade starts at 8 p.m., immediately after closing time for the first day of the Handcraft Festival.
The theme this year is "Don't Rain on Our Parade," in reference to what happened last year when a summer lightning storm washed the event right out.
The parade will start and finish at the St. Vital School track, making its way down 22nd Street, before circling Pennydale Junction and proceeding past the town hall on 1st Avenue. The parade will then finish up down 25th Street.
The deadline for entries for the parade is July 11 to the Battleford Parks and Recreation office. Floats will be judged at St. Vital School track between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Following the parade, at dusk, is the fireworks display, to be set off from the usual location to the west of Alex Dillabough Centre.
