AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
The return of Homefest to Watford City’s Main Street this coming weekend caps off three weeks of family-fun events in McKenzie County that started with the McKenzie County Fair and then Arnegard’s 4th of July Celebration.
Watford City’s Homefest began following the city’s 75th anniversary in 1989 when several Jubilee members decided that if the community could set aside one weekend a year for class and family reunions and have some special entertainment, Watford City could build an annual event that would be a focal point for the summer season.
Obviously, the idea caught on. And in spite of a few hiccups over the years, including the cancellation of the event last year due to COVID-19, the tradition for Homefest has continued. It had a simple formula, which was to combine a couple of street dances with a variety of special events with family and class reunions and you could have an event that would draw former residents and classmates back to town, as well as provide a special weekend for the thousands of new Watford City residents.