ROCHE PERCEE — The first-ever Roche Percee Days fundraiser will bring a lot of activity to the historical village in southeast Saskatchewan.
The event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. July 12 and continue until the early hours of July 13. Mayor Jay Riedel said the village is trying to raise money for kitchen and bathroom additions in the village's hall, which sustained significant damage in 2011, along with much of the village, during the Souris River flooding.
"The hall got built back pretty much, and now we're ready to start adding to it so we can use it for more events and rentals and stuff like that going forward," said Riedel.
History tours, along with a craft and trade show, will start at 10 a.m. Riedel noted the sale is already filled. Also at 10 a.m. there will be a bouncy castle, face painting, pony rides and other activities in the village's playground area. A Cherry on Top ice cream truck will be on hand.
A show and shine will begin at 11 a.m. Riedel said a $10 entry fee will be charged for the vehicle show, and the winner of a People's Choice Award will get 50 per cent of the money. A cornhole tournament will start at 4 p.m.
Barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs will be served for lunch for $5, starting at 11 a.m., and supper will be a pig roast, with $15 for adults and $10 for children. Beer gardens will open at 1 p.m. Ten Mile High will perform during a cabaret that has a $10 cover charge.
Camping will be available in a large field and Riedel also noted there will be a shuttle service for the event.
He estimates $10,000 has been raised for the hall project thus far, and the projected has an estimated cost of around $60,000.
"We're overwhelmed with the support that we've been getting. We didn't really think it would be like that," he said.
The village has been able to have a couple of weddings and other activities at the hall, but they've had to bring in portable toilets.
"Inside the hall, it's beautiful in there. It's all new … cement and nice and bright in there. Back when they rebuilt that, the provincial government, with their … PDAP [Provincial Disaster Assistance Program] only gave them so much money, and they did what they could with the money," said Riedel.
Once Riedel was elected to council, he said heating and insulation were installed in the attic, and electrical work also took place.
The village lost half of its tax revenue following the flood of 2011, he said. But the village has made progress, and thanks to government support, the access road from Highway 39 was resurfaced, and lights and picnic tables were installed at the famed pierced rock formations near the village.
Riedel thanked all of the volunteers who have committed to help out at Roche Percee Days, and the sponsors and the donors who have contributed.
"It's taken a lot of people a lot of time to put this to
