Moose Jaws downtown ready for 25th edition of Sidewalk Days

Downtown traffic will be mainly of the pedestrian variety this Thursday to Saturday, as the Moose Jaw Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) presents its 25th Sidewalk Days.
This year, over 70 local downtown merchants and 36 area-merchants will set up booths along Main Street North, from Manitoba Street to Caribou Street, as well as the zero block of River Street West, half the zero block of River Street East, half the zero block of High Street East, and the entire south lane on the zero block of High Street West.
"It's actually double what it was last year," said Sidewalk Days Chairwoman Heather Pittet, about the number of participating merchants.
On Thursday and Friday, the event starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. On Saturday, the event begins at 9 a.m., but most of the festivities end at 5:30 p.m., except for the Cornerstone Inn Pub and Eatery beer gardens.
The zero block of Main Street North will remain closed Saturday evening to accommodate the outdoor beer garden event, just outside the bar.
The bar is featuring bands on Friday and Saturday night on that part of the street. The concerts - Harlequin on Friday and Streetheart on Saturday - will begin at 10 p.m. Concert tickets cost $20 and are currently available at the bar.
However, beer garden live events are the only events patrons will have to pay for during Sidewalk Days. Pittet said the rest of the downtown attractions are free.
Some of the events include a children's petting zoo and jumping castle, a Moose Jaw Kennel Club agility course and pet care awareness booth, Society for Creative Anachronism medieval sword fighting demonstrations, the third annual strongman challenge and various buskers and live entertainment performances throughout the downtown, including sneak peeks at Live Out Loud Theatre's Ain't We Got Fun.
On Saturday, the Tired Iron Car Club will hold a show 'n' shine downtown, featuring restored and modified collector cars. There will also be a dunk tank set up on High Street.
Pittet said Sidewalk Days organizers are still waiting to find out if acrobatic motorcyclists will be performing on River Street for Sidewalk Days.
To prepare for the BID event, the streets where Sidewalk Days occur will be closed to traffic starting at 6 p.m. today.

Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.