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Masset's Harbour Days launches this weekend

Fishing boats, fun and festivities are all in the forecast for this Saturday's Harbour Day celebration in Masset."There's a lot going on because it's one day this year," said volunteer Marg Youngson. "It will be a busy day. When they say they're putting the 'harbour' back into Harbour Days - that's exactly what's happening."Ms Youngson said she is particularly looking forward to the boat tours, which will give everyone the chance to check out different vessels at the Masset docks like a crab boat, a troller, and the RCMP patrol boat.She's also going to watch the kayak races, a new event which will start at 3 pm Saturday afternoon at the fisherman's floats.The dog show is a Harbour Days classic not to be missed, she added. The popular canine display starts at 3:30 pm at the village office."The dog show is always lots of fun," Ms Youngson said. "That's good for a laugh."The Harbour Days event actually begins Friday evening, with a softball tournament in Old Massett getting underway at 6 pm, and an art show opening at the Delkatla Nature Centre, starting at 7 pm.Saturday starts bright and early with pancakes on the griddle at the community hall from 8 am until 10 am, and a bird and muffin walk starting at 8:30 am from the Stewart Tower on Tow Hill Road.At 10 am, there's soap box derby races on Main Street, then at 11 am the new "Fisherman's Challenge" starts up at the sports field.This fun contest is open to all and features contests like crab pot stacking, an obstacle course and knot tying. Volunteer Jenny Nelson said lots of prizes have been donated and a grand trophy will be awarded at a ceremony at the museum at 5 pm, along with Masset's "Citizen of the Year" presentation.Ms Nelson is looking forward to the parade, which will march through town at 11:30 am. She said there are lots of new groups making parade floats or displays, including surfers and birders, and there might be an appearance by Son of Supernatural Cloud and other characters from the Sinxii'gangu play. Kids on decorated bikes and anyone else are definitely invited to join in, Ms Nelson said.After the parade, Ms Nelson will be checking out the kids' carnival and arcade, on all afternoon and organized by the Tahayghen parents in the walkway around the sports field, and the crazy rowboat races at the floats, starting around 1 pm.Boats will be provided for all boat races, she said, but the organizers would appreciate it if people could bring life jackets for their kids.Harbour Days will also feature great food, with hamburgers on the grill at the fire hall, pie and tea all afternoon at the village office, and cake and coffee at the maritime museum at the 5 pm presentations.There will also be sumo suit wrestling, a story tent for kids and children's races in the afternoon, and a dunk tank by the village office. Dunking starts at 1 pm and Ms Youngson said lots of great targets have volunteered for the tank, including Co-op managers, RCMP officers, four teachers from G.M. Dawson and two teachers from Tahayghen.The Legion will be hosting the Gale York poll tournament, starting at 5:30 pm, and a dance starting at 9 pm.At 11 pm, there will be fireworks in the sports field, weather permitting.