Awww, there's nothin' to do in Estevan, I'm bored!
Residents can be assured that will not be the case this weekend. The Energy City citizens will be taking a cue from that moniker and will be stepping out all over the place.
In fact deciding where to begin will be just one of the problems local fun seekers will find themselves facing beginning Thursday and continuing through to Sunday evening.
Those wanting to celebrate Estevan's multicultural, ethnic diversity and experiences may want to start with the Collage Cultural Festival while those wanting to pay tribute to the community's largest industrial complex that is celebrating its 50th anniversary, might want to take in the SaskPower driven anniversary activities at the Boundary Dam Power Station.
For the speed and thrill seekers, Estevan Motor Speedway opens the track for the first sanctioned races of the season on Saturday.
Then there are the Riderville events and activities , a Relay for Life activity downtown on Saturday and lacrosse on Sunday.
The weekend features three cabarets, including one for young people, action at all community venues and a whole bunch of live performances.
The Collage Cultural Festival gets rolling as early as tomorrow (Thursday) with an international coffee house event featuring artists with a multicultural flair. This takes place at Coffee Comfort on Fourth Street in downtown Estevan.
On Friday afternoon, the Boundary Dam 50th birthday party gets underway with a party for the employees at the power station plus the display of memorabilia and a slide show.
Friday evening the Collage Cultural Festival gets underway in a more serious vein with the kick off in the Civic Auditorium at 6 p.m. followed by a family Caribbean cabaret in the Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Hall and a fashion show in the Civic Auditorium.
A Caribbean cabaret for teenagers only will begin at 9 p.m. in the Wylie-Mitchell facility while others will be tasting the heat in a spicy food tasting contest in the Civic.
On May 15 (Saturday), the pace quickens even more as the Collage Festival re-enters the Civic Auditorium at 10 a.m. with live performances all day featuring musical performers from around the world bringing local citizens the best of Greece, Ukraine, Caribbean nations, African nations and more. A multicultural Mardi Gras begins at 8 p.m. featuring Shattered and DJ music as well as several more live performances. Library Voices, the eight piece musical treat featuring five Estevan musicians will be on stage in the leisure centre beginning at 6:30 in the evening.
An international pub featuring cold beverage and live performances will also be found in the Estevan Exhibition Hall located between the Civic Auditorium and the Wylie-Mitchell Hall from noon to 6 p.m.
The Lignite Miners Centre will conduct a special Spectra Credit Union Kids' Cultural Zone all day Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. It will include live performances, food, displays and a special play area.
The Boundary Dam employees, partners and invited guests will attend a Friday night event which will feature more cultural diversity with Martin Janovsky, a Czech Republic comedian on stage for their supper-time entertainment at the Days Inn Plaza followed by a dance with Crossroads providing the music.
On Saturday at Boundary Dam, the gates open to the public at noon and everyone is invited to make their way to the power station itself south of the city. Children's activities will be underway and other celebratory activities will include a barbecue, plant tours, environmental displays, demonstrations and much more until 4:30 p.m.
Coffee and cake will be served throughout in the Boundary Dam canteen which will also be stocked with photos and memorabilia.
On Saturday night, the Estevan Motor Speedway opens a new season with a full racing card. The speedway is located southeast of the city just off the Shand Power Station road.
Saskatchewan Roughrider tailback Wes Cates will be in the city to help Estevan's bid to become the official Riderville community, which would mean a $25,000 prize to be allocated for the upgrading of sporting facilities. Cates will be accompanied by members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Dream Team, the cheerleading/dance team.
Events associated with the Riderville push will be held at the Woodlawn Regional Park football field on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:30. It will include a watermelon carving contest, scrimmages that pit the European football skills (soccer) against the North American version, a field goal kicking contest, a football toss to win prizes and other on-field activities. The Riders will also be hosting a booth at the Collage Festival in the Civic Auditorium. That facility will include over 60 exhibits and the evening cabaret.
On Sunday, Collage features an international brunch at Houston Pizza and there will be a special Prayers for Peace in several languages and rituals from various cultures beginning at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. (Check the Collage Cultural Festival website to learn the exact location for this service). The Sunday afternoon events at Woodlawn will follow and everyone is urged to don their Roughrider gear for the fun in Woodlawn.
Shortly after all this wraps up, the Estevan Devils midget lacrosse team will take on the Regina Bandits for a match-up in the Lignite Miners Centre to help conclude a busy weekend in Estevan.
On top of all this, the long range forecast is for sunshine and warmer weather.
Nawww, nothing to do in Estevan. Might as well see what's on TV.
