The Northwest Territorial Days Parade and Exhibition is one of the longest-standing summer traditions in the Battlefords. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Summertime staple

N.W. Territorial Days Parade/Exhibition coming to North Battleford

Aug 11, 2023 | 6:00 PM

The sounds of children’s laugher, the jingles of carnival games, and the smell of deep-fried treats and cotton candy… the Northwest Territorial Days Exhibition is just around the corner, taking place Aug. 16-18 at the North Battleford exhibition grounds.

The biggest event of the year for the Battlefords Ag. Society, and a staple in the community for more than a century going strong, the fair will follow the 134^th Annual Northwest Territorial Days Parade beginning at 7 p.m. Tues., Aug. 15.

Always a visual spectacle that brings the community out in droves, general manager of the Battlefords Ag. Society, Jocelyn Ritchie said now less than a week away, there’s been an air of excitement leading into another excellent turnout for the parade signed up already.

“It’s going to be a fantastic year, we have lots and lots of entries again, and I think we’re going to be looking at almost 100 again which is great,” she said. “We always get a lot that are last minute or just show up at the parade site too so I’m sure we’ll be over that in the end, but for right now we’re sitting pretty good for a really nice parade.”

The Parade will start at the Civic Centre, run down 19th Ave to 100th St., then down until 13th Ave, then over to 105th back up to the civic Centre. (Submitted/Battlefords Ag. Society)

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This year’s parade will not have a specific theme, so those participating are free to pull from their own inspirations, with one lucky float being crowned the “Overall Best Entry” and awarded the President’s Choice Award with a special plaque to commemorate the occasion, presented by Ag. Society President, Dana Alexander.

The parade will both start and finish at the Civic Centre. Those participating in the parade are asked to arrive between 5 and 5:30 p.m., as judging will begin at 6 p.m. sharp. Participants arriving after 6 p.m. will not be judged.

All entries for the parade must be sent/taken to the Administration Office in the Agrivilla Building on the Exhibition Grounds. More information on the parade can be found here.

N.W. Territorial Days Exhibition

Following the Parade Tuesday night, the Northwest Territorial Days Exhibition will then run Wednesday to Friday, Aug. 16-18.

“Over the three days we will have over 20,000 people on our grounds, which is just amazing,” Ritchie said. “We have a great lineup coming again with West Coast Lumberjack Shows doing some log rolling, pole climbing and axe throwing, and we have a really good circus act as well which does some aerial stunts and different performances.”

This year’s event will also include a magician, who will do a hypnosis show Friday night at 9 p.m., in addition to the return of longtime event favorites such as Chariots and Chuckwagons, and horse shows, and rides/midway provided by West Coast Amusements.

The full exhibition schedule of events and times can be found at the Battlefords Ag. Society website.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1