June 21, 2012

City has big plans for Homefest

By Kate Ruggles
Farmer Staff Writer

Everyone is invited to join in as Watford City unites and reunites former high school alumni, family members, friends and people who have never before called this part of the country their home, with this year’s Homefest Celebration taking place June 21 - 23.
This year, the Homefest Committee hopes to bring back the old and bring in the new through a variety of family-friendly activities and event-filled days and nights that are sure to create a down-home warmth and friendly excitement everyone will enjoy.
According to Doug Bolken of the Homefest Committee, this year’s Homefest will be bigger than ever. In an effort to accomplish the Homefest Committee’s goal of ‘welcoming back and welcoming in,’ they have added another night to the weekend in order to handle the scope of activities they have planned.
Music in the Park kicks off Homefest on Thursday, June 21, at 6 p.m. at Watford City’s Tourist Park. Individuals and families are encouraged to bring picnic baskets and blankets and come to hear Lonesome Willy play on the Tourist Park stage.
On Friday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Tourist Park will be flooded with artists to help bring back Art in the Park. Special guest Miles Bendixson will unveil his newest original wildlife painting, “Prairie Peace,” at noon. Dance performances by Emily Ramage and Lindsay’s Little Tots will take place at 2 p.m. and music by Mike Rhodes starts at 3 p.m.
The annual Trish Gravos Memorial Golf Scramble begins at 5 p.m., with registration opening at 4 p.m. For more information, call 842-2074.
That evening at the Watford City golf course, everyone is invited to attend the Homefest Steak Fry at 7 p.m.
They’ll then need to head down to Main Street for the evening Street Dance starting at 9 p.m. and featuring DJ NODAK and Reverse FX. Their mixes are sure to bring a fun and entertaining end to the day.
The annual Homefest 5K Race will jump-start the action on Saturday morning as the runners will be the main attraction when they start and finish their race on Watford City’s Main Street.
While the crowd awaits to cheer on their friends and family running in the race, they can peruse the Homefest Street Fair vendor tables set up along Main Street.
In Ribfest-like fashion, the Homefest Committee has invited vendors to set up tables all along Main Street. With a kid zone for the kids, a baby pageant for the parents, a dog pageant for the dog owners and a trashy truck contest for the trashy truck owners, Watford City’s Main Street will be the place to be for the whole family.
The evening will conclude with another Street Dance featuring the Taylor brothers’ band, The Dwaylors, and the band, The Filthy Beats.
A Homefest booth will be set up on the corner of Main Street and 2nd Avenue Northeast for registration information. People can also visit www.mckenziecounty.net and click on the tourism tab or email Lindsay Wingerter at lindsaywingerter@gmail.com for more information.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER