Heritage Days coming next weekend

The 2005 edition of Heritage Days is ready to roll in Columbia Falls next weekend.

The city-wide celebration already got its unofficial kick-off over the past weekend with a rodeo staged both Friday and Saturday evenings at the Blue Moon Arena.

. On Thursday night this week, Park Side Federal Credit Union will host an ice cream social at 7:30 p.m. in Marantette Park. That ushers in the Lions Club's double-header concert at 8 p.m. in the Don Lawrence Amphitheater at the park, when Hank Handford will direct the Flathead Valley Community Band in concert, followed by another surprise musical offering.

. Wildcat Endowment events stretch from Friday through Sunday. Meals for Columbia Falls athletes traveling to away games will be the focus for spending interest on the trust. Heritage Days activities:

On Friday, Mick Washburn's barbecue is from 5 to 7 p.m. behind the Columbia Bar on Nucleus Avenue. A silent auction starts at 6 p.m., and the live action from Porteus Auction starts about 7 p.m.

There will be tickets to the Denver Broncos-Philadelphia Eagles game in Denver this fall, with airfare and hotel; underground sprinkler system; tickets to Seattle Super Sonics, Seattle Mariners, Gonzaga men's basketball, University of Montana and Montana State University football; a week in a Hawaii condominium; roofing materials; framed photos of the 2005 Wildcat boys' basketballs state champs; signed memorabilia from Josh Fields, Columbia Falls' own big-league player in the Chicago White Sox system; and art, golfing, health, meal certificates and more.

Sunday is the fifth annual golf tournament on Glacier View Golf Course at West Glacier, with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. Be there at 8:30 a.m. if you want to play on one of the 4-, 5- or 6-person teams. It's $50 per golfer, which includes 18 holes of golf, a barbecue lunch, T-shirt, and prizes for low gross score, low net and individual hole prizes.

To register call Steve Melby at 892-2878 or 892-4957. Walk-ons are welcome.

. Rocky Mountain Street Machines members have a full slate, headquartered mostly at Glacier Gateway Elementary.

They start on Friday night with a 7 p.m. cruise; pre-registration begins at 5 p.m. at the school. On Saturday, registration for the show-n-shine starts at 9:30 a.m. at the school, and continues until noon. They will participate in the parade at 2 p.m., then return to the school for the rest of the car show and barbecue throughout the afternoon. Burnouts start at 6 p.m. On Sunday there will be breakfast and cruise for car show participants.

. Saturday's events start early and last late into the night, with most events in the heart of uptown Columbia Falls along Nucleus Avenue:

- The firemen's pancake breakfast starts at 7 a.m. in the Ray Barnhart Fire Hall. Proceeds support the volunteer department.

- Boogie to the Bank, the 5K and 10K run/walk on the North Fork Road, starts at 8:30 a.m. Register before 7:30 a.m. at First Citizens Bank, then hitch a ride to the start line and run back to the bank.

- Three-on-three basketball action begins at 8:30 a.m. on First Avenue West, with competition categories from fifth/sixth-grade boys/girls up to men's and co-ed teams. Check in by 8 a.m.

- Arts, crafts and vendors will set up along Nucleus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All day, there will be kids' activities in Whitefish Credit Union Park, trolley rides across from Moving Image, street bowling near Glacier Lanes, Fish and Game rifle range in Hometown Video's lot.

- Highlight of the day is the Heritage Days parade down Nucleus Avenue, beginning at 2 p.m. Want to be in it? Call 892-0479 in the evening.

- Lions Club will serve hamburgers at First Citizens 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and again behind Sportsman's Club from 7 p.m. to midnight. Senior Citizens lunch is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the North Valley Senior Center. Nite Owl/Back Room's deck party is noon to 3 p.m. at the restaurant on U.S. 2 West. Eagles Club barbecue at the club on U.S. 2 West starts at 6 p.m.

- Performances on First Citizens lawn include Whitefish dance troupe at noon, line dance at 1 p.m. and magic by Dan Jimmerson after the parade.

- There's a horse shoe tourney and dunk tank at the Eagles Club at 4 p.m., and Lions Club Larchwood Regatta Race on the Flathead River at 4:30 p.m.

- The Boys and Girls Club's Flip Wilson concert and youth dance is in Hometown Video's parking lot from 7 to 9 p.m. Moran Sisters sing for a dance at the Eagles Club from 8 p.m. to midnight, and there's a street dance for adults behind Sportsman's Club from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For more information, call the Heritage Days Committee representative at 892-0178.