Weyburn's centennial celebration, Homecoming weekend, Aug. 1-5, will be a five-day extravaganza with historical attractions, theatre, concerts, reunions and activities for the whole family.
"I think it's a huge honour to represent the city on its centennial," said Mayor Debra Button. "My family is looking forward to taking in as much as we can. I really hope everybody comes out and gives Weyburn the birthday she deserves."
This homecoming weekend is special, since it runs in conjunction with the annual Wheat Festival, which means there are tons of events at different venues around the city.
The weekend kicks off Thursday, August 1 with a come and go alumni reunion at the Weyburn Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m.
Other events at the library include a Youth Art Show, with a special reception and sale on Thursday evening at 7 p.m.
Also at the library, a "Historic Weyburn" display will be open to the public in the Allie Griffin Auditorium from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For the rest of the weekend, the youth art show and "Historic Weyburn" display can be viewed from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The memorabilia room will be open to tours at the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Centre during the centennial weekend. Hours of operation are 12 noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The Signal Hill Arts Centre will be allowing residents to take self-guided tours and there are art displays on the second and third floors commemorating the history of Weyburn and the buildings of Heritage Village.
Signal Hill Arts Centre will be open to the public at 9 a.m. until noon and 1 to 5 p.m. A meet and greet with the artists who created the work on display will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.
Over at the Soo Line Historical Museum, they will have their annual bread baking contest for Thursday. "I remember my mom doing it," said Joan Gregory, manager of the museum, but explained that she didn't know how many years exactly the bread baking contest was held. "They've been doing it for many years."
All entries for the six different categories: white, wheat, multi-grain, specialty, white roll and brown roll, must be in by 5:30 p.m., and contestants are allowed to enter one submission into each category. There is no entry fee.
Thursday evening will wrap up with a Rotary reunion at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall at 6 p.m. and a screening of the movie "Brave" in Jubilee Park.
During Friday and Saturday, during the annual Wheat Festival events, the people mover will be giving rides from 11 to 4 p.m.
It starts on the hour at City Centre Mall, and runs on a loop to the Heritage Village, Signal Hill Arts Centre, Crescent Point Place and the Exhibition Grounds, the Weyburn Public Library, Knox Hall, the Royal Canadian Legion, City Hall and the Soo Line Museum.
There will be registration and information for those returning to Weyburn for the homecoming celebration at the Curling Rink on Friday from 3 to 10 p.m. There is also a meet and greet social from 6 to 10 p.m.
Heritage Village Days, with on-stage entertainment, children's games and activities, demonstrations of blacksmithing, butter churning, ice cream making, rug making, sheep herding, barbecue's and concessions, will open at 11 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m.
The provincial Horticultural Show and strawberry shortcake tea will be hosted at the Knox Hall from noon until 5 p.m. Those wishing to enter some flowers or vegetables should contact June Cull, the show secretary, for show tags.
The Walk of Fame will be held in front of City Hall at 2 p.m. to honour three Weyburn residents who have contributed greatly to the city. The 2013 inductees are Dr. Noell Hall, Art Mainil and Isabelle Butters.
Registration, information and a photo display by the Weyburn Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society will be at the curling rink from 3 to 10 p.m. There will be a two-hour light horse demonstration, by the Weyburn Light Horse Club, at the exhibition grounds at 4 p.m.
A Farmer's Market will be held at City Centre Mall from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Turner Curling Museum will open on the exhibition grounds at 10 a.m. and stay open until 5 p.m.
The world premiere of "Circle the Crops" will be staged at the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Centre on Friday night at 7 p.m. The full-length comedy is written by Edward Willet and performed by Crocus 80. The evening opens with, "Touched by an Alien", performed by Crocus 80 youth theatre.
Admittance is free, but granted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the seats are filled. Ed Komarnicki, MP for Souris-Moose Mountain, will attend the Friday performance, and will return to Weyburn on Sunday, when "Circle the Crops" will be performed again, if he doesn't make it to the first performance.
Festivities on Saturday, August 3 start bright and early with a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. in the Weyburn Credit Union Community Room. This event is sponsored by the Weyburn Credit Union, the Weyburn Co-op, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn.
The farmers market at City Centre Mall starts at 9:30 a.m. and be open until 2 p.m. Another round of activities open up at 10 a.m., including Fun in the Park at Jubilee Park.
There will be children's activities at the Fun in the Park with inflatable bouncers, children's activities, a stage with entertainment, and children's games and activities. Fun in the Sun will be 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. The Soo Line Historical Museum and the Heritage Village Days open to the public for free at 11 a.m. and will both remain open until 6 p.m.
The DLC Barrel Racing will begin at 1 p.m. at the Dale Chuckry farm.
Rounding out Saturday evening are two different events. The Centennial Supper will begin at 5:30, followed by a show, "Memory Lane: A Tribute to the 40s, 50s, and 60s", in the Weyburn Curling Rink. Tickets cost $20 and are at the Weyburn Co-op Food Store or City Hall.
The headlining concert, Dean Brody, with opener Cody Prevost, begins at Crescent Point Place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45 for floor access and $35 for a seat and are available at www.ticketweb.ca.
"We've sold a lot of tickets," said Rochelle Wendt, centennial committee member, of the Brody concert. As of July 23, roughly three-quarters of the tickets were sold and that they would continue selling until the performance.
Wendt said Tenille Arts, might do a duet with Cody Prevost. "She was excited to get involved and help out."
Celebrations on Sunday, August 4 start later in the day. The Heritage Village, the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Centre, and DLC Barrel Racing will all begin at noon.
The Weyburn Leisure Centre will be offering free swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. The Centennial Wheat Festival Ecumenical Service will be held at the Knox Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. and the High School Alumni Concert will perform in the Weyburn Comp Cafetorium at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks at dusk at the fair grounds.
The last two performances of "Circle the Crops" and "Touched by an Alien" will also be on Sunday, at 2 and 7 p.m. Doors at the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Centre open a half-hour before the shows. There is no cost for admittance but seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The final day for homecoming is Monday, Aug. 5. The Leisure Centre will offer free swimming from 1 to 5 p.m., while other local historical centres return to normal hours.
There will also be a large variety of reunions happening throughout the weekend for various groups, classes and families. Please see our inside story on page 15B for information about school reunions.
For a complete schedule on centennial homecoming, the Wheat Festival, or events at Heritage Village, refer to the advertisement in today's paper.
