Droves of people flocked to Lancer this past weekend to take in a long-standing tradition that was combined with a newer one.
After a two-year hiatus, the Chokecherry Festival returned for its 50th edition and teamed up with the third annual Mud Bog.
It was an easy decision to pair the two fall-time events together for the Lancer Ag Society to help try and rebirth the event created in 1971.
"It was starting to die down and bringing the mud bog in, drew in a larger crowd," said Cheyenne Bradford, the vice president of the Lancer Ag Society.
About 1,000 people came out Saturday afternoon to witness 28 vehicles attempt to make it through the muddy pit.
"It's fun," she said. "It's something different, I think that's why it's such a big hit, is there is nothing like it around. The closest would be in Medicine Hat."
The chokecherry aspect of the three-day event was prominent Saturday morning as the tasteful berry was turned into three-different toppings and sold by the caseload at the pancake breakfast.
"Every year there is a big group of us that go out and pick the chokecherries and then we get together and make the jam, jelly, and syrup," she explained.
In between the pancake breakfast and the mud bog, was the parade that had 40 floats with about 700 people in attendance.
"It was one of the biggest parades I've ever seen in a small town," she said.
Photo by Cadence Anderson The event kicked off on Friday night with a dance. Saturday's festivities also featured a show n' shine (40 vehicles), a bouncy castle, and live music from Medicine Hat's Classey Ferguson.
Photo by Cheyenne BradfordAn interdenominational church service and trap shooting rounded out the Sunday agenda.
"To see it all come together is a proud moment," Bradford said.
Photo by Chad Hartman
Tue, May 14, 7:00 PM
