North county celebrates Jamboree and Harvest Days

By Lethbridge Herald on August 19, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Picture Butte residents and visitors from the surrounding comminities braved the hot summer weather late Saturday morning to watch the Jamboree Days Parade there, on a day full of activities including a pancake breakfast, Kids Day in the Park, beer garden and a time capsule opening.

The end of summer funfest kicked off Friday evening with a street dance and concessions from 7 – 9 p.m. at the outdoor arena at Lions Park, followed by fireworks at 10 p.m. at the Picture Butte Reservoir.

“Jamboree Days brings the town together and it brings people into town. It drives a lot of community spirit and it’s a great family gathering.” said Picture Butte Mayor Cathy Moore. “Everybody loves coming out to dance and have a great time. The fireworks brings out everybody and we always put on a great display.”

Following a pancake breakfast, the parade kicked-off just after 11 a.m. featuring a wide variety of vehicles and floats of all sizes, shapes and types from huge semi-trucks and farm vehicles to small antique wagon-wheeled motor cars and bicycles. And of course there was candy…lots of it.

For “kids” of all ages with a sweet tooth, summer parades in this region (Coalhurst and Coalhurst had theirs during the weeks prior) are like having Halloween almost every week…the only difference being that the candy comes to them.

Nearby Coyote Flats Pioneer Village and Prairie Tractor and Engine Museum entered several antique cars and tractors, plus one white behemoth tractor aptly named “Big Bud.” Volunteer Hank Kenny and his grandson Cooper were in town from Saskatoon were in town visiting friends. Hank volunteered to drive one of the Coyote Flats vehicles.  

“This is a great event…my first time here,” says Kenny. “I was in town visiting friends and will definitely be back next year.”

Some of the vehicles were pulling double-duty, as Coyote Flats’ concurrent Harvest Days Celebration (part of Jamboree Days) two kilometres away, and were due back for the Parade of Power antique tractors revue scheduled for 1 p.m.

Coyote Flats’ other Harvest Day events included a wood turning demonstration, a wheat thrashing demonstration using antique farm equipment, a kids train ride (driven by Cooper Kenny), a wool spinning demonstration using antique tools and methods and dog trials featuring an agility course and tricks demonstration.

Back in town, following the Jamboree Days Parade, Kids Day in the Park offered numerous activities including bouncy castles, games, facepainting, glitter tattoos and free hot dogs provided by the Picture Butte and District Agricultural Society. 

In the late afternoon, Picture Butte’s millennium time capsule (which was sealed in 2000) was opened at the entrance to the arena at 4:30 PM. followed immediately by a community barbecue. 

Picture Butte will be hosting its Centennial Celebration during Jamboree Days in 2026, marking 100 years since its establishment.

The town is named after a prominent hill, or “butte,” that early settlers found visually striking. The name is a translation of the Blackfoot term “anatskim-ikway,” meaning “the beautiful hill.” Over time, construction projects and development leveled the hill, which now only exists in the town’s name.