Virtual Frontier Days Week celebrations underway
A memorable week is underway in Swift Current, with the community celebrating a Virtual Frontier Days Week instead of the traditional action packed four-day celebration hosted at Kinetic Park.
Swift Current City Council proclaimed the week of June 21 to 27 as Frontier Days Week in the community, giving and extra push to the virtual event to encourage people to still get in the Frontier Days mood.
“While we are not being able to host the traditional Frontier Days in 2020, we would like to keep the essence of Frontier Days alive and the spirit of our community uplifted until we are able to host a bigger and better show in 2021,” explained Swift Current Ag and Ex General Manager Tracey Stevenson.
She explained that Frontier Days began in 1938 during the height of the Great Depression, and the community celebration was intended to raise the spirits of residents across the Southwest. The 2020 celebration also takes on a similar theme, as 2020 has been a time of change for the community, the province and the entire world.
Frontier Days 2020 will provide a memorable online experience, and the “virtual fair” will include contests, a Doc’s Town virtual tour, film reels, entertainment, and the community is invited to pursue their own food experiences by supporting local restaurants.
“An online presence is planned to ‘wow’ the virtual crowds of this first ever summer of social distancing,” she explained. “Virtual Frontier Days Week 2020 will be a true celebration of the spirit of the west, past and presence.”
BRING’N BACK THE BEARD CONTEST The winners will soon be announced in the Bring’n Back The Beard Contest, sponsored by The Barbering Company. Prizes will be awarded to winning entires in the categories of Best Groomed, Longest, Best Styled, Most Original. This last time this Frontier Days tradition was held occurred back in the 1950s.
ENTERTAINMENT
A Blast From the Past Talent Show Contest invites entertainers to perform a cover version of a song by an artist which appeared on the Frontier Days Grandstand. Country crooners can select songs by artists such as Aaron Goodvin, Big & Rich, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Doc Walker, Florida Georgia Line, High Valley, Michelle Wright, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Paul Brandt, James Barker Band, The Road Hammers, The Washboard Union, or Hunter Brothers. Rock n rollers can pick material from groups such as 54-40, Chilliwack, Finger Eleven, Prism, Streetheart, The Trews or the The Northern Pikes. Entries can be emailed to kineticpark@swiftcurrent.ca, or post the performance on your favourite social media platform and take the Swift Current Ag and Ex (Instagram: @SCAGEX or Facebook: @Kinetic Park). The best videos will be highlighted on the Ag and Ex Youtube channel and Facebook page.
TASTE THE FAIR WEEK - SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANT
“We all love that fair food. So we are encouraging the public to search out our local eateries serving the fair-style foods. Try to find some fair food at one of them and lets see what you have found.”
People are asked to post their food pictures, and tag both the restaurant location and Kinetic Park to be entered. The best photo and review will be rewarded with tickets to Frontier Days 2021 along with a gift card from the participating restaurant. SPIRIT OF THE WEST PARADE TOUR The Frontier Days Spirit of The West Parade Tour is being organized as a selfguided driving or walking tour to view homes and businesses who are decorated for the occasions. People are invited to plan out their own tour between June 22 to 27. Prizes will be awarded in the following judged categories: Best Depicting Theme, Best Commercial/business Entry; Best Volunteer/non-profit Entry; Best Salute to Essential Workers; Best Cultural Entry; Best Yard and Garden Entry (Green Thumb Award). Additionally, there is a Best of the Southwest category for entries from outside the City of Swift Current. A list of addresses on the tour is as follows: Swift Current Broncos (2001 Chaplin St. E); Sangel Energy Services (2200 Paterson Drive); Residence Entry (444 8th Ave. N.E.); Residence Entry “Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s Future” (328 3rd Ave. N.E.); Swift Current City Hall (177 1st Ave. N.E.); Jeremy Patzer, Member of Parliament 42A Central Ave N.); Unforgettable You (115 Central Ave. N.); Canadian Mental Health Association (176 4th Ave. N.W.); Nuwest Interiors (1080 Chaplin St. W.); Haunted Town of Lil-sur-mur (910 North Railway St. W.); Shoppers Drug Mart (911 Central Ave. N.); Urban Cellars (915 Central Ave. N.); Rubberstone Southwest Saskatchewan (337 Walsh Trail); Swift Current Model Railroad Club Swift Current Mall (inside): Swift Current Ag & Ex (1700 17th Ave. S.E.); Southwest Homes (408 3rd Ave. S.E.); Residence Entry (136 Central Ave. S.); Riverview Village Estates (1101 2nd Ave. S.E.). The lone rural entry is in Blumenort (104 Flowerville Ave.).
“You may not see Frontier Days up close and in person like previous years, but there are contests galore, prizes to win, and so much fun to be had.”
The full Virtual Frontier Days Week schedule is posted at swiftcurrentex.com, and people can follow the action digitally via social media channels (Instagram: @ SCAGEX, Facebook: @Kinetic Park, Facebook: @Docstownheritagevillage, or Youtube: scagex).