The saskatoon pies sold like hot cakes at the Mortlach Berry Festival. Organizers increased the number of pies for sale to 550 from 500 this year. Around noon a visitor told a volunteer she still wanted to buy a pie and was told few were left.
The day started off with a slow turnout for the pancake breakfast as it looked like a rainy day. By 10:30 a.m. crowds were strong and lines formed for slices of pie.
Vendors along the Main Street displayed lines of products from baking to clothes. One vendor, Flour Girl Bake Shop, plans to open a shop in Moose Jaw in the former King Edward Confectionary.
In the Mortlach School, objects were on display from a 1994 time-capsule that was opened recently.
Marcie Duffy picked up a drawing by her son, then a Grade 1 student.
“He must have had a terrible day,” she exclaimed.
The drawing showed a boy standing on green grass with five dark clouds and a few rain drops overhead.
“Maybe I should check the weather that day,” she said “Maybe we needed rain.”
Items to go into a new time capsule were also exhibited.
In the crowd farmers exchanged news on the rain, generally four to five inches in the district and how it changed the area from near desert to an oasis.
In the time capsule, suggesting what the student wanted to do in 25 years, Moose Jaw entertainer Kelley Sapergia saw a future in information technology which is part of his career.
The 30-minute parade featured clowns, cars and floats. A classic purple Mercury of Danny Hawkin with moving hood drew plenty of attention.
The June 29 festival wasn’t running against Moose Jaw Sidewalk Days for the first time in years.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
