Fairview Festival

By Jerome Kessler

Dennis Dahl hopes to be a “flag bearer” in this year’s Fairview Old Timers Reunion and Summer Festival. He is usually one of the horseback flag bearers for this event. He relishes the chance to do so, and enjoys being able to carry on the flag bearer tradition that both his father and his grandfather did before him. But Dahl, who is a 68 year-old cowboy, was recently injured in a “horse and bull” accident – and doesn’t know if his doctor is going to let him ride in this year’s parade. His dedication to the parade, and his desire to once again participate, is typical of what many Fairview people think about their annual festival.

This weekend (July 15-17) will be the 65th running of the Old Timers Reunion and Summer Festival. It is always held on the third weekend of July. The festival features visiting with friends and neighbors, watching the parade, live music, and a variety of other activities. The 1961 and 1981 classes are featured this year, but this is, as always, an “all class” reunion. Most of the activities are held at Sharbono Park, which is located on the east end of town on Highway 200.

This year Margaret Carranza will be featured on the Old Timers’ Festival button. Last year Carlos Collins was so honored. Each year a different “Old Timer” is depicted on the button. Jean Lanouette, former Fairview judge and long-time local historian, recalls that her husband, Walt, was on the button in 1977. He and Roy Collins (on the 1961 button) were instrumental in starting the Annual Reunion in 1947. There previously had been a loosely organized “summer festival,” but then it was expanded into its current festival and reunion format.

This event “has blossomed,” Jean Lanouette says, and “just gets bigger and better every year.” Several thousand people are expected to attend the Saturday afternoon (1 pm) parade. Other events are the “Relay for Life Hamburgers in the Park” beginning at 4 pm on Friday along with registration and button sales. There is also a 6 pm Friday night dinner (at the Double Barrel) for the class of 1981. On Saturday there is breakfast in the park from 7-9 am. There is a Car and Tractor show between 9-12 am, and the Kiddie Parade will be at 10 am. Lunch is served from 11 am – 12:30 pm. Other Saturday afternoon activities include free entertainment and all class community socializing in the park. A Duck Race will be held at 4 pm. The class of 1961 will be sponsoring an “All Class Community Social & Chat” on Saturday afternoon and evening – to be held at the high school gymnasium. And on Sunday there will a 10:30 am community service (sponsored by Community Presbyterian Church) in the park.

The $2 festival buttons can be purchased at most Fairview businesses. They also will be sold during the weekend at Sharbono Park. Larry Denowh, who owns Advanced Communications in Sidney, is also offering these buttons for half price. Button wearers get Saturday’s lunch for free; it also will allow you free entrance into the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Center and Ford Buford State Historical Site on Saturday and Sunday.

Take in some (or all) of this year’s Festival and Reunion events. Say Hi to Dennis, and Margaret, and Jean, and Larry, and all the other friends that you will see there. The Fairview Festival is one of the reasons why eastern Montana is a great place to live – or return to – if you are one of those who has moved away.