By Joel van der Veen
July 5, 2010

DAVIDSON - Despite predictions of a thunderstorm, the sun shone for most of June 26, providing a bright, beautiful setting for Davidson's annual Old-Fashioned Saturday Night.

"We'd like to thank the weather woman and weather man for helping out," Mayor Mary Jane Morrison said just before an evening potluck dinner at Town Hall, one of many events held throughout the day.

Recreation director Morgan Grainger, who spent most of the day dressed and painted as a clown, said he was pleased with the event, despite how "the weather and a few gremlins crept into the day and wreaked a little havoc."

"I tied balloon animals for hours and hours," he said with a smile. "My fingers are still bruised."

The day kicked off on Saturday morning with a parade through town, featuring a variety of floats, vehicles and marches. The parade route began at the coffee pot around 11 a.m., continuing along First Street, making a short jog through town, then turning left onto Grant Street and left onto Government Road, where it ended.

Dessert and coffee were offered at the Seniors Centre, while Arnold Park was the site of children's games and old-time music. Clark Puckett gave rides around town in a 1925 Ford Model T, and Bill Northrop had a petting zoo set up near the old CNR station. Face painting was also offered by the Regina-based Street Culture Project.

A well-attended potluck dinner was held at Town Hall, where local artists, including Gail Prpick, Leona Morrison, Frank Lang and Crystal Woodman, had their work on display. Rev. Kevin Sam of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church prayed before the meal.

Events continued into Sunday, with a "Walk for The Health of It" departing from Town Hall at 8 a.m. The United Church also held an open-air service in Arnold Park at 11 a.m.

The sun shone through most of the day, with rain and wind finally appearing during the dinner. The main casualty was an open-air showing of the animated film How to Train Your Dragon in Arnold Park, first moved to the curling rink and ultimately cancelled due to technical difficulties.

Grainger said the town intends to reschedule the movie for later in the summer. As well, a talent show, scheduled to take place following the potluck, was cancelled due to lack of interest.

Planning for Old-Fashioned Saturday Night, a long-running annual tradition, began three months ago, he said. The office had anticipated some federal funding but was ultimately denied since the day's events were not affiliated with Canada Day. The event is typically held in August but was moved to an earlier date this year, in hopes of attracting families who might be away on vacation later in the summer.

Still, the day was "as good as can be expected," said Grainger. He added that he's already working on ideas for next year's event and hopes to form a planning committee. One possibility is to move Old-Fashioned Saturday Night to July and then hold a children's festival in June.

"I would like to see more community participation," said Grainger, who took office last October. "With more minds and more ideas, the better an event always is."

The leaderonline is a division of The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada.