Community
The annual Old Settler’s Day Festival must be near when the summer temperatures are cooling, it’s time to shop for back-to-school supplies for the kids, and the leaves are starting to turn. The two-day festival is Saturday and Sunday, August 23rd and 24th. The theme is “Teams, Trains & Trucks.”
The small town of Clyde Park, a farming and ranching community on U.S. Hwy 89 North about 20 miles north of Livingston hosts the celebration. “Many established families have been in this area since 1877,” said Dolores Davis, past president. This year marks the 49th anniversary of the first Old Settler’s Days event.
It starts off with the Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning at 8 am, followed by the Ranch Run at 9 am. Registration for the Run is at 8:30 am. The run has 10k, 5k and 1-mile walk/run options. The Old Settler’s parade starts at 11 am, but lineup at the school (for judging) begins at 10 am. Grand Marshalls are Doe Stafford along with Lyle and Myrt Woosley.
Saturday is packed with activities. There are arts and crafts vendors offering their wares. The FFA has a corn-hole tournament and their sale of rubber duckies (to be personalized) is underway for their Sunday Rubber Ducky race. There is also a quilt show, the Wheels Along the Shields car show, a rifle raffle, games in the street, a silent auction, a pie auction, conversations with old-timers, and a museum display featuring Montanans who have been inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame. There will be plenty of fun activities for youngsters of all ages to enjoy. Live music in the afternoon with Meyer’d Down.
Event festivities are up and going again with a barbeque with Jeff Sarrazin at 6 pm. Festivalgoers may then enjoy a dance from 7 to 11 pm, with more live music from Meyer’d Down.
Sunday gets started at 9:30 am with the Rubber Ducky Race at the Shields River Bridge. Next up is an old-fashioned, outdoor (weather permitting), church-community service, which is non-denominational in Holliday Park at 10:30 am, followed by a potluck picnic in the Clyde Park community hall at 12 pm to honor the Grand Marshalls of the parade.
There’s something very special about spending time with our elders, and hearing stories about their hardships and victories. Last year, proceeds from the events were donated to the Clyde Park Community Hall, both the Wilsall and Clyde Park Fire Departments and scholarships for seniors graduating Shields Valley High School. This festival is about celebrating community!
For more information about Shields Valley Old Settler’s Days, call Jeff Sarrazin at 406-220-1951 or Lacey Arthun at 406-788-3676.