September 1, 2010

Alexander to host 65th Annual Old Settlers’ Day celebration this weekend

By Tina Foreman
Farmer Staff Writer

As fall approaches, the time has come for the 65th Annual Old Settlers’ Day celebration in Alexander, a weekend of food, fun, family, reunions and of course, new memories.
This year’s celebration will run from Sept. 2 through Sept. 4.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve attended all 64 of the previous celebrations or if this is the first time you’ve ever heard of Old Settlers’ Day, this is a celebration that you won’t want to miss.
The festivities kick off on Thursday, Sept. 2 with the bonfire at 7 p.m., east of the park. Each year the bonfire is held to kick off the event and prepare for the annual roast beef feed that is held at noon on Saturday, a meal you won’t want to miss.
Friday’s festivities begin with the Long X Wagon Train which leaves from Alexander. But if you are more interested in food than horses, you won’t want to miss a minute of the Chili Cook-Off from 3 to 7 p.m. on Main Street. If you’re interested in seeing how your chili will rate, call Fonda at 828-3566 or Steph at 828-3225.
After you get your fill of chili, you’ll want to head over to the ALSC Arena for Team Roping beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wrapping up the day will be music and dancing at the Firehall from 6 to 9 p.m. with ‘Wes and the Sidewinders.’
Thursday and Friday are sure to be fun days, but if you can’t make it to all four days of the celebration, Saturday is the day you don’t want to miss.
Saturday’s events kick off with the parade down Main Street at 11 a.m. Registration for the parade is from 8 to 11 a.m. at the park shelter or by calling Kay Glick at 828-3044.
Whether you’re a participant in the parade or just there for the candy, it’s always a good time for everyone. Following the parade will be the barbecue in the park. In true Old Settlers’ Day tradition, this year’s beef has been donated by Raymond and Clara Papineau with a program honoring them scheduled for 1 p.m.
After they fill up on parade candy and the barbecue, the kids won’t want to miss the Children’s Carnival, north of the park.
“The kids carnival is completely free of charge. You don’t even need an Old Settlers’ Day button,” says Sarah Lewis, Children’s Carnival coordinator. “We moved the carnival to north of the high school, because it is going to be even bigger this year.”
The carnival will include fun and games for kids of all ages from the tractor pull to an obstacle course and monkey jump. There will be something for everyone.
“The kids will have a blast with all of the inflatable games we have,” adds Lewis. “We have Fun On The Run games and trophies for the Tractor Pull. The kids will have a blast.”
In case of inclement weather, the carnival will be held inside the Alexander School, so rain or shine, the fun will go on.
Following the carnival will be the Street Dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Everyone is welcome to dance the night away to ‘Spectrum.’
Although the main day of the weekend is Saturday, the fun spills over into Sunday with the Basin Buck-A-Roo Youth Rodeo Finals for kids 15 and under beginning at 10 a.m. in the ALSC Arena.
It’s going to be a weekend filled with fun and excitement and a $2 Old Settlers’ Day Button admits you to all of the activities, so there’s no excuse not to stop out and enjoy at least some of the fun.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER