Preparations are nearly all in place for the annual Weyburn Wheat Festival, with the decorating contest for businesses and residential entrants to kick things off on Thursday, a week ahead of the actual weekend.

Some new features will be at the Wheat Festival this year along with many of the events and activities that have made the festival heavily-attended in the past few years.

Decorating contest organizer Amanda Goheen, with the Southeast Regional Economic Development Authority, said more registrations are needed for both the business and residential categories, and will be taken until the end of day today. Only one residential entry had come in by the end of Monday.

Judging will be held on Thursday morning by a local panel, and winners will receive certificates and Wheat Festival passes. Registration is free, and can be phoned in to Amanda at the SEREDA office in Weyburn.

The Wheat Festival itself will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12 and 13 at the Weyburn exhibition grounds, along with Homecoming 2000, which starts on Aug. 11.

With the many events on tap for this weekend, along with the events being held in conjunction with the Wheat Festival, volunteers of all types would be appreciated, said organizer Donna Hastings at City Hall's tourism office. Many volunteers are already in place, but anyone who could spare two or three hours some time during the weekend would be welcomed to take part, she said; anyone interested can call her at City Hall or Gloria (Larry) Rempel at home.

A new contest this year is called the co-operative farm family contest, which is open to any family who wishes to take part. It's a relay-type of event, involving everyone in the family.

To start off, the kids will carry pails of water to dad, then a basket of eggs to mom (without breaking any of the eggs); mom will call dad and the kids for supper. Dad will fix a broken wheel on a wheelbarrow by telling the kids what tools he needs; the kids will get the tools from mom, and once the wheelbarrow is fixed he'll load up the kids in it and take them to mom. This contest will be held in the afternoon of both days.

Admission buttons will again be $5 each in advance, and will gain admission to most events at the exhibition grounds, and includes the pancake brunch on Saturday morning and the Connie Kaldor concert on Saturday evening in the Colosseum, starting at 7:30 p.m. Not included is the Lions barbecue on Saturday. One change this year will be that admission buttons will cost $7 at the gate instead of staying the same price as before.

In conjunction with the festival, the Weyburn Horticultural Society will hold their 75th annual Horticulture Show in the Curling Rink for the two days, and the Heritage Village will have their Heritage Day open house and tours on the Saturday. Also in conjunction with Wheat Festival weekend is the Homecoming 2000 event, with participants to take part in many of the activities of the Wheat Fest. They will attend the Kaldor concert on Saturday, and will have a dance following in the Colosseum, featuring Weyburn's Bill Grohn and the Saskatchewan Heritage Band playing old-time band music.

Agricultural displays will be shown in the Sports Arena and on the fair grounds, along with a threshing bee and stooking contest. The children's activity centre will be in the McFadden Building behind the Curling Rink, and horse-drawn wagon rides will be available, as will the people-mover.

The Wheat Festival's drama presentation, Soo City Celebration, written by Weyburn's Leanne Bishop, has been holding rehearsals three times a week in preparation for opening night on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the T.C. Douglas Calvary Centre. Performances will also be held at the same time on Friday and Sunday, with two matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

The musical comedy, directed by D'Arcy Megenbir, features a core cast of Steve Zackrisson, Keith Sakatch, Paula Reich, John Megenbir, Tammy Lawrence and Kim Wheeler, along with cameo appearances by various other local residents. The chorus is directed by Cora-Lynn Greening. For tickets, contact Donna Hastings at City Hall.