AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Watford City is going to be bustling with activity this weekend as we welcome back classmates, relatives and friends for yet another Homefest celebration. Homefest had its beginnings after Watford City celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1989, and since that time, it has become an annual event.
And what a homecoming it is going to be for those people who are returning. Those who will be making their first trip back to Watford City in many years may not recognize the community and all of the changes that are presently occurring. While most impressive of the recent changes is obviously the city’s new Main Street, so has been the addition of the Long X Visitor Center, the new water park and the new baseball field. But probably equally impressive to those coming back home is all of the new development springing up in and around Watford City with the expansion of the oil industry.
And, if you are like me, you agree that Watford City’s Homefest weekend is the probably best weekend of the summer. The secret to Homefest is really quite simple. Set aside a weekend for class reunions and family reunions, and then throw in just enough entertainment to fill in the free time and people will keep coming back. And that simple formula has worked year in and year out as hundreds of former Watford City area residents make their annual pilgrimage back home to renew friendships and to make new ones.
While the entertainment lineup is simple, it perfectly compliments a wonderful weekend of visiting. You have a golf scramble and steak fry, street dances on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Homefest Run the West, the Missoula Children’s Theatre, tours of Watford City High School and showings of Small Town Soldiers, a documentary of McKenzie County soldiers who served in World War II.
All in all it is going to be a grand weekend. So get ready Watford City. Company is coming and we’re treating everyone to a festive weekend.