Mossbank’s Old Wives Lake Festival is the town’s biggest annual event, taking over the streets with an incredible variety of activities including over 70 vendors for the street market, swimming, blacksmithing, workshops, face painting, a petting zoo, live music, and much more.
“We’ve been working extensively over the last number of years to try to improve multiple things in our community,” said Christa Fortin, assistant administrator for the Town of Mossbank and the principal organizer of the festival. “This is a great way to showcase our town and encourage people to come and visit rural Saskatchewan.”
“It’s a great small community. … Life is better in Mossbank.”
The festival’s activities will begin on Friday, July 15 at 11 a.m. with the arrival of the food trucks.
Friday, July 15
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. — Food Trucks Wars
- 6 p.m. — Bus tour to Old Wives Lake Nature Area, Bishopric salt plant, Expanse & Ardill, and RCAF #2 Bombing and Gunnery School. Tour narrated by Don Smith, text 306-354-7469 to reserve a spot
- 6 p.m. — Golf Tournament, followed by bonfire
Saturday, July 16
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Bent Nail Café hours
- 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Pancake Breakfast on Main Street
- 9 a.m. — Slo-Pitch Tournament. Register by calling or texting 306-681-4902
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Mossbank & District Museum hours
- Museum tours
- Games and activities
- Blacksmithing — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Mossbank Community Hall
- Street fair
- Quilt and art display inside the hall
- Bouncy castles
- Axe throwing
- Petting zoo
- Sid the Clown — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Face painting and sparkle tattoos — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with breaks
- 11 a.m. — Show N’ Shine car show registration on Main Street
- 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. — Food Trucks Wars
- 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. — Beer Gardens & Entertainment Stage on 5th Avenue East
- Magic by Chris at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- Country music artist Justine Sletten at 2 p.m.
- 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. — Street Dance with live music on 5th Avenue East
- $10 admission for 19 to 65 years old, children and seniors free
- Justine Sletten
- Blacklite Hoop Dance
- Headliner — Big Shiny S’toons
Sunday, July 17
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Bent Nail Café hours
- 10 a.m. — Interdenominational church service at Mossbank & District Museum
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Mossbank & District Museum
- Museum tours
- Blacksmithing — workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., limited space, text 306-354-7469 to reserve a spot
- 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Food Truck Wars
- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Bus tours
- Leaving from museum at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Round trip to Old Wives Lake Nature Area, Bishopric salt plant, Expanse & Ardill, and RCAF #2 Bombing and Gunnery School. Tour narrated by Don Smith, text 306-354-7469 to reserve a spot
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Mossbank Community Hall street fair
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Old Wives Lake Nature Area
- Self-guided trails
- Birdwatching
- Bird Walk with Nature Sask at 11 a.m.
- Old Wives Watershed Education Sessions at 11 a.m.
- Flying WILD with SaskOutdoors — 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
- Kawacatoose Boyz singers and dancers at 2:30 p.m.
- Workshops
- Leather necklaces — 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Beaded bracelets — 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Dreamcatcher — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Hoop dance — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Walking sticks — 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., $30 per person or bring your own. Text 306-681-4902 to reserve a spot
- 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Pie and coffee at the 50+ Club
Mossbank Mayor Brian Howe's favourite part of the festival
Mossbank Mayor Brian Howe looks forward to the Old Wives Lake Festival every year. He said the excitement level in the town and bringing people in is the biggest highlight as the mayor.
On a personal note, Howe enjoys the food, the golf and slow-pitch tournaments, and the outdoor dance on Saturday night.
“I’ve always looked forward to the Food Truck Wars, and I love the outdoor dance. You don’t hear about many street dances, but on a nice night, it’s pretty fun and relaxing just to sit around with neighbours and kick back.
“I love it,” Howe continued, “and I’m looking forward to it. If you’ve never been here, you should come at least once. And I’m pretty sure you’d come back again.”
Follow the festival on Facebook to stay up-to-date at facebook.com/mossbanksoldwiveslakefestival.
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