Finger Lickin' Good: Watford City Ribfest

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With the month of August quickly approaching, it means that another annual Watford City event is approaching, too. If you love BBQ, live music and classic cars, you will most definitely love The Best of the West Ribfest, which is on Friday, August 7!

The Ribfest will be located along Main Street in Downtown Watford City, and will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prime time will be between 5 and 9 p.m., which is when the ribs will be served. In addition to finger lickin' good ribs, sauces and all of the fixings, there will be food and concessions from many other local vendors. This event is family friendly, so bring the entire family down for games, bingo, and the ping pong drop!

The live entertainment at this year's event will likely have you dancing in the street! The performer lineup includes Jessie Veeder and Outlaw Sippin', Medora's Burning Hill Singers, Lonesome Willy, Gettin' Outta Dodge, and Kristi Goldade!

In between sets, check out the dozens of classic cars which will be on display. According to the McKenzie County Farmer, while the event typically has 20-30 cars, Ribfest organizers are hoping to have even more this year.

While all of the activities we have mentioned so far would quality as "spectator sports," you can actually get in on the action! Do you think your ribs have what it takes to be known as "the best of the west?" 5 p.m. is the hour of the rib showdown, and with prize money at stake, you won't want to lose! The first place winning team will take home $1,000! If you have your eyes on the prize, be sure to submit your team as soon as possible, as the number of teams is limited to 20. If you would like to register for the competition, click here to download a form.

The Glen at Hunters Run is proud to be a sponsor of this year's Ribfest! May the best ribs win and we hope to see you there on August 7!

Additional sources consulted:
Watford City Chamber of Commerce

Watford City Schools Adapt to Growing Numbers

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The resident influx in Watford City for Bakken oil jobs is not made up of oil workers alone - it consists of oil workers' wives and children, as well. Although school is currently out for the summer, at the schools themselves, there is quite a lot of work happening behind the scenes in preparation for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond.

The McKenzie County Public School district in Watford City is comprised of Watford City Elementary School, which holds grades K-6, and Watford City High School. The 2015-2016 school year begins on Thursday, August 20 and the schools are preparing for record enrollment numbers this year. The elementary school has already procured two new modular buildings, which will provide four additional classrooms for students. This addition brings the total number of modular classrooms in the school to 10. Once the new Watford City High School is completed, the fourth and fifth graders will move into the former high school space. Until then, those two grades will use the modular spaces. Pre-registration days for the elementary school are currently taking place and regular enrollment ends August 5.

As is mentioned above, once the new high school is completed and students move into the new building, the elementary and junior high students will have more space. Construction on the new high school is moving along according to schedule, and should be finished by January 2016. School officials are hoping that the transition can occur in between fall and spring semesters in January. The new $50 million school will have upgrades including an auditorium for theater and fine arts programs, football fields and a track field. To view pictures on how the high school construction is progressing, as of July 18, click here.

Although the population increase in the Watford City and McKenzie County areas, these changes will also bring new opportunities and additional programs and facilities to Watford City youth. Until August 20 though, the kids can enjoy the parks, sleeping in, and everything else that summer in Watford City has to offer!

The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes are located less than a 10-minute drive away from Watford City schools.

July 4th Celebrations

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This Saturday, July 4th, the United States of America will celebrate its 239th birthday! While Watford City may be a small town, we still enjoy celebrating with our neighboring communities. With a long weekend ahead of us, we are ready to spend some quality time with our family and our community!

Just 8 miles west of your home at The Glen at Hunter's Run, our neighbors in the town on Arnegard are preparing for its July 4th celebration! The two-day celebration begins tomorrow evening, July 3, from 6-8 PM with hamburgers in the park. The festivities will continue on Saturday, beginning with a 5K walk/run at 9 AM in honor of resident Sherry Arnold. The run will be followed by crafts and a bouncy house for the kids in the park. The Independence Day parade will begin at 11 AM.

Be sure to come to the event hungry, because starting at noon in the park, there will be a barbecue and pies for sale! Paula Slow will be providing the live entertainment as visitors enjoy the weather and BBQ!

At 1 PM, there will be a ceremony to honor Sherry Arnold. Arnold was a math teacher for 18 years, and after battling cancer for six years, she was able to defeat the disease! The ceremony will honor her life after cancer and her accomplishments. Other afternoon events include softball, street hockey and a tractor pull.

At dusk comes the main event - fireworks! What would an Independence Day celebration be without watching fireworks dazzle the skies over North Dakota?

To gain admission to the event, guests must purchase a $2 at First International Bank & Trust, CornerStone Bank, Short Stop and Charlie's. Food and drink will be available throughout the day. This event is family friendly!

What are you big plans for the upcoming holiday weekend? Whether it's spending time at home grilling or baking, enjoying the outdoors with your family or attending the events in Arnegard, we want to know! Share you plans with The Glen at Hunter's Run on our Facebook and Twitter pages! Have a safe and happy holiday weekend filled with friends, family and fireworks!

Sources consulted:
McKenzie County Farmer
McKenzie County Tourism