Weyburn will be celebrating Saskatchewan's 100th birthday with many events planned for Homecoming Week, Aug. 1-7.

Many annual events, such as the Weyburn Wheat Festival, have been planned for Homecoming Week to make it easier on visitors.

"It is ready made entertainment for the people," said the city's tourism coordinator, Donna Hastings.

All week the Allie Griffin Art Gallery at the Weyburn Public Library will be featuring an exhibition called "100 years: Saskatchewan Art" as well as an open house.

The Soo Line Historical Museum will be holding a quilting show throughout the week as well.

The Legion Hall will be used as the Gathering Place from Aug. 1-5. During Homecoming week, visitors are asked to register there upon arrival.
The Gathering Place will be located in the upper Legion Hall. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Aug. 1-4 and open until 8 p.m. on Aug. 5. The Gathering Place will be closed by 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Locals are urged to come to the Gathering Place to greet former residents who have returned to Weyburn and enjoy refreshments and musical entertainment.

On Tuesday, Aug. 2 there will be a self-guided garden tour around the city. Tour lists can be picked up between 9:30 a.m. and 12 noon at City Hall.

A Weyburn Collegiate Institute Class of 1945 60-year reunion will be held. Committee member Norm Flaten is expecting a pretty good crowd for the reunion.

"We are expected to have about 35 of our reunion people, graduates of '45," Flaten said.

Special guests were also invited. The guests include those who left to fight in World War II and those who graduated a year or two from 1945.

Those who are not able to attend were glad to talk to old classmates when they were invited. However, Flaten has a warning to all those who attend.

"This reunion in not without risk because an old flame may be reunited," Flaten said chuckling.

A guided walking tour will be offered, starting at the courthouse at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Events on Aug. 4 include the 50-year reunion for the class of 1955 at WCI. In the evening, ex-students of the school are welcome to attend a social in the Legion Hall, downstairs in the Vimy Room.

On Friday, Aug. 5, the day starts with a pancake breakfast in Memorial Park from 7-10 a.m. There will be the reuniting of original members of the Jaycees, Legion and Municipal Bands.

A class reunion for WCI's class of 1957 will also take place as well. Registration will begin at 8 p.m. at the Legion Hall Vimy Room.

About a dozen former classmates have confirmed that they will be attending the celebrations but organizers expect around 15-20 couples.

"We usually have the same number (of people) come out," said organizer Wayne Cooper, comparing attendance numbers from their last reunion in 1992.

Once again the self-guided garden tour will take place on Aug. 5 with the tour lists available at City Hall between 9:30 a.m. and 12 noon.

This year is extra special for the Weyburn Wheat Festival, and it will be included in the Centennial celebrations on Aug. 5. This includes the Street Fair downtown on Third Street, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

Signal Hill Arts Centre will be holding a Craft Show and Sale on Aug. 5. On the same day, there will be the annual Weyburn Horticulture Show and Berry Tea Room at Knox Hall. The annual bread-baking contest will be on display at the Soo Line Historical Museum.

At River Park, a children's outdoor stage will be set up by Drama Queen Productions, which will be performing, "You Are Simply Too Munsch", and there will also be a petting zoo.

There will be open houses at Haig, Souris, Assiniboia Park Elementary, Queen Elizabeth, Weyburn Junior High, Comprehensive and Marmora Country schools starting at 2-4 p.m.

To wrap up the day, the Weyburn Rotary Club will be sponsoring a WCI/WCS "School Dance".

Visitors are invited to take a trip into the past with Heritage Park Days beginning on Aug. 5.

Saturday, Aug. 6, marks day two of the Wheat Festival, Heritage Park Days, the Craft Show and Sale and the Horticultural Show.

The Weyburn Rodeo will take place at the Weyburn Exhibition Grounds.

A potluck supper in River Park will take place as well. Participants are asked to bring food and chairs.

"The Wheat Festival is going to have fireworks for the homecoming," Hastings said.

The final day of celebrations, Aug. 7, will start with a pancake breakfast called "Breakfast in the Park" at River Park.

The Wheat Festival will finish their celebrations with a city-wide interdenominational church service that will be held at the Colosseum, featuring a choir with members from churches throughout the city.

Finally, the last day of the Weyburn Rodeo will be held on Aug. 7.

For more information about the Centennial celebrations contact tourism coordinator Donna Hastings at City Hall.