HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A tradition in Havre since 1980, this year’s Festival Days Celebration will look much different due to the pandemic.
The annual parade, as well as numerous other events scheduled from September 18th-20th, have been canceled.
Chamber Executive Director Julea Robbins says the decision to cancel the parade was made in order to protect the health and safety of the community, as they would have been unable to enforce social distancing.
“We can’t control the people that are on the sidelines, and law enforcement can’t control them either. So it’s just easier to not hold it then run the risk of people getting sick.”
Plans remain in the works for vendor shows, but the majority of events will either be virtual or won’t require people to congregate.
This includes promoted sales at member businesses, a kids coloring contest, a button promotion and a decorating contest.
“We’re encouraging businesses to decorate their windows, their doors, whatever they’d like to. And our community members can do the same if they would like to join in with their houses and yards. And there will be a contest. So when you sign up, we’ll come out and take a picture of whatever you decorated and put it on Facebook. And whoever gets the most likes will be declared the winner. Normally with our parade, we give out Mayor’s Choice Award and different awards for the best decorated clothes. So we’re going to do that but with business decorating to kind of do a virtual parade.”
To participate, you must register with the Chamber.
The button promotion will be similar to previous iterations, but with a twist.
“Any business that wants to participate will be on a list that we’ll put out here soon. If you shop there, than you can get a button. Supply is limited, of course. And then you have the chance to win a gift certificate from the Chamber.”
For the kids coloring contest, children are asked to draw their favorite thing to do in Havre and submit them to the chamber. Separate will be chosen for age groups 0-4, 5-8 and 9-12.
Submissions for the various contests can be emailed to Chamberdesk@havrechamber.com, or dropped off at the Chamber office.
The 48-hour softball tournament is one of the few events that still intends to go on as scheduled.
Stay tuned to New Media Broadcasters for updates as Festival Days nears.
