by Kristin Kruse
Small-town charm was in full swing over the weekend as Daly Days provided two days of family friendly fun. With a wide variety of entertainment, including a street dance, two live bands, a chalk art competition, a car show, food vendors, main street shops selling their goods and of course the wildly popular wiener dog races, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Robin Pruitt, director of the Hamilton Downtown Association, spoke about the event that is organized and hosted by the non-profit. “We were worried that the heat and the smoke were going to have an effect on attendance, but the community really turned up. Everyone looked so happy!”
Over 100 classic cars lined the historic streets of Hamilton as the Bitterrodders Car Club and Nikki Landon Shrader hosted their annual car show. Folks crowded in to watch both purebred and mixed breed wiener dogs race against each other. Young and old alike took turns on the mechanical bull to test out their bull riding skills. There were 38 chalk art entries, which made for a colorful walk down Main Street. “We wanted to round out the weekend, have more art and things for kids to do. The chalk art was something we added two years ago and it has become really popular, and it gives people something to look at while strolling down the street” said Pruitt.
The festival, which was originally called “Crazy Days” and was more of a street sale that Main Street businesses took part in, has blossomed into an event that puts the emphasis on Hamilton’s heritage. A heritage which is not only about the town’s founder Marcus Daly but Main Street itself. There is also a strong focus on community spirit and small town shopping every year. Susan Wetzsteon, executive assistant to Pruitt, has been involved with Daly Days for over 20 years, serving in several different ways including president and treasurer. Wetzsteon has helped facilitate many changes to the festival, primarily turning the event into something that is free to the community. “There used to be a charge for the street dance, and now anyone can come at no charge. We could not do it without our sponsors, they make all of this possible. The vendors that we work with are wonderful and all of our volunteers are just great!”
The Hamilton Downtown Association is responsible for three free events per year, including Daly Days, the Christmas tree lighting and Halloween festivities. “Our organization needs community support to be able to continue these events” stated Wetzsteon. For more information on how to get involved, join the association or make a donation please visit https://visithamiltonmt.org