Clarion Staff

The 2017 Kindersley Goose Festival kicks off on Thursday and there’s no shortage of activities for people to enjoy, including the annual parade on a new route.

The Goose Festival runs from Sept. 21 to 24. Events take place throughout the community on all four days of the festival, but Saturday is always the busiest day of the weekend with events focused on Main Street and the downtown core.

Each year, the festival kicks off with a Goose Plucking and Potato Peeling contest on the Downtown Kindersley Association stage in an empty lot on Main Street. A pie-eating contest and the Great Egg Drop are appetizers. The pie eating starts on Thursday at 5:15 p.m., and the plucking and peeling follow at 6 p.m.

The Kindersley Chamber of Commerce helps by organizing and promoting the festival’s events, and organizing the contests. Contestants can show up at the start of contests, pre-register by email at [email protected] or by phone at 306-463-2320.

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Events that require people to register include the plucking and peeling competition and pie eating contest on Sept. 21, and the karaoke contest on Sept. 22 at the Kindersley Mall. The karaoke contest starts at 7 p.m.

People also needed to register for the Goose Festival Parade on Sept. 23, and the craft and vendor show at the Kindersley Mall. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and the theme is Canada 150.

Heather Wall, the chamber’s executive director, said the parade starts at the south end of Main Street as always. The route goes north on Main Street to 10th Avenue, and then to First Street West before turning south on First Street to pass by Heritage Manor. The route used to turn at Seventh Avenue but now it turns at 10th Avenue.

People are being asked to obey the blockades along the route. Wall said she wants to encourage people to participate in all contests and events throughout the weekend. The chamber has some “awesome prizes” for all contest winners, she added.

The heavy horse pull returns starting on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. and continues on Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. The event takes place beside the Peavey Mart on Railway Avenue.

Food will also be available in several locations on the weekend.

Several events on Saturday take place on Main Street. They include an antique car show, a motorcycle show at the Red Lion Inn, live entertainment on the Downtown Kindersley Association stage, a dunk tank, rock climbing wall, belly dancing demonstration and more.

Kindersley Pickleball and Kindersley Screen Arts are among the groups hosting events on Saturday.

The K-Town Skyscraper RC Model Plane Club is hosting a fun fly on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the Kindersley Antique Threshing Club is holding its harvest demonstration at the Kindersley and District Plains Museum.

The Iron Horse Kindersley Klippers play the Estevan Bruins on Sept. 22 at the West Central Events Centre (WCEC).

The annual Goose Festival Dance takes place on Sept. 23 at the WCEC.

And the Fly-in Pancake Breakfast is at the Kindersley Regional Airport on Sept. 24 starting at 8:30 a.m.

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