The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Colorful posters announcing the schedule of events for the upcoming Sugarbeet Festival are popping up around the area. The 12th edition of the annual community event is set for Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24th. This year's theme highlights the railroad industry and its historical and continued impact on Chinook and the surrounding area. There will be a number of new events around the railroad theme and returning activities and contests that have become favorites over the years. Most events are in and around downtown Chinook during the weekend of the festival.

Railroads, the Industry

Theme for this year's Festival

The first train came to Chinook in the fall of 1887. Chinook was already the second largest town in the valley and the railroad meant more supplies, finished goods and settlers would be drawn to the area. Unlike much of the west that was settled by pioneers in covered wagons, many settlers came to the north central Montana area via the train, often with their worldly possessions transported in box cars.

Rail passenger service disappeared from Chinook some time ago. Nowadays cattle and sheep are shipped to market by truck rather than by train. But grain producers still rely heavily on the railroad to move large quantities of grain to markets both nationally and, ultimately, internationally. Many railroad employees and retirees still live in Chinook, contributing to community life in a variety of ways. The sounds of trains passing through are a common part of the background noise of life in town and in the valley. The presence and effects of the railroad are still very much felt in and around Chinook.

Events and activities celebrating

the role of the railroad

A model train display is slated for the Blaine County Library meeting room. Festival organizers are looking for folks willing to display model trains and other railroad memorabilia. Model trains do not have to be set up to run, the idea is to let people see the kinds of models others are using or have in a collection. To get more information about displaying model trains or other railroad related items, contact Hayley Yost, Sugarbeet Festival Event Coordinator, at 509-378-9027. The model display will be open Friday, 2-8pm and Saturday, 8am-5pm.

The miniature BNSF train will be giving rides to kids on Friday, 6 p.m. -8 p.m. and on Saturday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Rides will be on Indiana Street in the downtown area. The miniature train is a favorite kids' activity, so bring your kids out to enjoy miniature train rides.

On Saturday evening, 4:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m., a Pinewood Train Derby will be held downtown. You read correctly, it's like the Scout's pinewood derbies, but the racers will be trains. A festival spokesperson said, "Pinewood train kits have been ordered and should be here next week." A Train Derby Building Workshop is set for Friday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., in the area next to Shore's Floral on Indiana Street. Participants can also purchase their wooden train any time after next week at the Chamber Office in Chinook. The workshop is to help race participants create their own 'race trains' to be ready for the Saturday evening derby. Watch the newspaper or go to sugarbeetfest.com for developing details about the derby.

Another event for kids is set for Saturday at 3:25pm at the downtown office of the Chamber. Kids will have Story Time and a Craft. The story and craft theme is "The Little Engine That Could." Speaking of the famous little engine, the Blaine Cruisers Car Club is hosting a drive in movie on Saturday evening at the fairgrounds and will be showing "The Little Engine that Could." The movie should begin around 8:00pm.

Here's one you might want to think about, but it is related to the railroad theme-a Spike Driving Contest. Any would-be or former gandy dancers may want to check out this contest and show onlookers how it's done. This event is still in the planning stages, so watch the newspaper or festival website for final times and location. (If any reader knows the whereabouts of John Henry, the steel drivin' man, ask him to call the Chamber, this is an event he would really enjoy).

At this point that's a pretty complete list of the railroad-theme related activities and contests. Here's some favorites, from past festivals, that will be back this September. Street vendors will be on Indiana Street on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday.

On Friday morning the Fall Health Screening will be conducted by the Sweet Medical Center staff. The screening will be in the Library Meeting Room from 7am to 11am. Blood draws will be available for a wide variety of tests. You can contact Sweet Medical Center for details and available tests. There will be a charge for some of the screenings.

Friday evening "Night at the Museum 3" will be shown on the north outside wall of the Wildlife Museum. Late in the afternoon judges for the Business Decorating Contest will be making their decisions and choosing the best railroad themed decorations, business winners will be announced at the Saturday evening barbeque.

The Chinook Chamber has contracted with Havre-based event organizer Hayley Yost to oversee the planning of this year's Sugarbeet Festival. Yost graduated from Carroll College, in Helena, and was an Admissions Specialist for MSU-Northern before starting her own business-For You, By Me Events. She does event organizing at facilities owned by Havre Historic Properties, the company that owns the Havre Historic Post Office (old post office) and the 305 Building (former Masonic Temple).

Saturday will have many activities familiar to festival goers. Dan's Auto Parts Breakfast will kick off the morning at the Senior Center. A Car Show set downtown, on Indiana, will run from 9am to 3:30pm. The Dutch Oven Cooking contest begins at 9am with public taste testing at 12:30pm. Both the Blaine County Museum and the Wildlife Museum will be open all day on Saturday (regular admission charges apply). Check-in for the major Sugarbeet Contests (biggest, best decorated, etc.) will be from 9am-11am near the Wells Fargo Bank on Indiana Street, juding of the beets happens at 11am.

At 10am the Team Sorting event starts at the fairgrounds. A Three-mile Fun Run begins at 10am and a One-mile Run is set for 11am-both will happen downtown. The Spike Driving Contest is also scheduled for 11am, location to be determined. Live Music, downtown, begins at 12:30 and will feature local musicians.

Saturday afternoon will kick off with the Round Bale Races at 1pm-last year was a first and bale racing proved to be very popular and challenging. The Sugarbeet Parade will come through downtown at 4pm with line up for the parade at Meadowlark School at 3:15pm.

The Community Barbeque is downtown at 5:30pm. Activities move to the fairground after the barbeque. The Drive-in Movie, "The Little Engine that Could," should start around 8pm at the grandstand area and a Nighttime Horseshoe Tournament begins at 8:30pm.

You can find a festival schedule and contacts for the various contests at http://www.sugargbeetfest.com. There are also posters in most public spaces and businesses in Chinook.