The big day has arrived!

Kipling is host to what is being called Saskatchewan’s Biggest Housewarming Party Ever, this weekend, Sept. 1-3.

The celebration is being held to welcome the Town’s newest citizens, Red Paper Clip Trader Kyle MacDonald and Dominique Dupuis to their new home in Kipling, at 503 Main St.

It promises to attract party-goers from across North America and perhaps beyond. Enquiries have been reported from England, Germany and Japan. Campsites have been booked by folks from Quebec, Ontario and all four Western provinces, as well as from the states of Washington, Kentucky, Missouri and California.

It is reported that several cavalcades of vehicles plan to make the trip from a number of points in Saskat-chewan and neighbouring provinces.

In a gala program slated for Sunday afternoon, MacDonald will be named Honourary Mayor For A Day and the couple will be declared Honourary Lifelong Citizens. Among the dignitaries expected to attend are Premier Lorne Calvert, PM Ed Komarnicki and MLA Don Toth. Mayor Pat Jackson will bestow the honours on Kyle and Dom.

Sunday’s program will also feature award-winning Country Singer Brad Johner, Singer Jody Gnant of Phoeniz, Arizona, the White Bear Dancers and Ontario entertainers Colin Pearson and Club Treehouse. The program begins at 2:00 p.m. and the show will go on until 8:00.

Much more is planned for the time leading up to Sunday’s feature program.

Beer gardens will be open nightly beginning Friday. Saturday night’s headline act will be the Saskatoon-based rock band Butterfinger and Sunday night will feature local favourite Alex Runions.

A visitors’ centre will be open daily, offering Kipling and oneredpaperclip.com souvenirs including a 28-page collectors edition program featuring the sequence MacDonald’s trades from a single red paper clip to his own house. It is here that weekend admission bracelets can be obtained, allowing access to the camping area, auditions, beer gardens and the Sunday program and concert area. Just $20 for adults and $10 for teens. Those 10 and under who register will get a free bracelet allowing access to age-appropriate venues.

Maps will be displayed at the Visitors’ centre and visitors are encouraged to mark where you have travelled from with a push-pin.

Among the souvenirs will be t-shirts featuring the winning designs in MacDonald’s online contest.

The health foundation is putting on pancake breakfasts on Main Street both Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 8:00.

World-famous romance noellist Mary Balogh of Kipling will be signing her books, Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

A children’s magic show kicks off Saturday’s downtown stage acts at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Finnystein Real Cool Energy Show will be followed onstage by renowned composer / musician Joel Fafard; a group billed as Shayne Hawken and the guys; the Heavy Metal band Stillseed; the group Old-Skool Classic Rock; Pop Group The Rotators with special guest Jane Galloway, and Colin Pearson, at about 75-minute intervals.

Displays and sidewalk sales are also being planned, along with in-store sales. About three dozen craft booths and vendors will be offering a variety of handmade goods, souvenir items and food . . . lots and lots of food, including Curly Fries, Wings, Popcorn, Candy Floss, Watermelon, Snow Cones, Corn on the Cob, Steak Burgers, Roast Beef, Roast Pork, Pie, Salads, Lemon Water, Pop, Juice and you name it!

Watch, too, for local artist Clayton Kertai, who will be creating a monstrous chalk mural on Main St. during the proceedings.

Caricature Artist Jack Gravener will also be on hand to create for you your own, personalized souvenir of the event.

Auditions for Donna On Demand resume Saturday from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at Kipling Community Centre. The winner of the role will be announced during Sunday’s gala program.

An “open casting call” by Corbin Bernsen’s production firm publicmediaworks will be held Friday and Saturday, and Sunday, if needed. Times are published in the souvenir program and will be posted.

An open invitation has been issued to buskers from far and wide, whether clowns, musicians, jugglers or the like, who perform for donations or just for fun.

Three “Dino Bouncers” (inflatable jumps) will be set up and supervised games and races will be going on at the Elementary School grounds much of the weekend (www.dinobouncers.ca).

The SaskTel hot air balloon will be there, too!

A Roast Pork Supper will be available atKipling Arena, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. sponsored by Kipling Parks & Recreation Board.

Sunday morning, Kipling Ministerial Association will conduct a worship service from the Main Street stage, beginning at 10:30 a.m. As with many of the other stage events, those attending are encouraged to bring their own seating, as only a limited amount will be provided.

Among the Sunday supper offerings will be KFC, being brought in by Kingswood Golf.

Saturday evening, (Sept. 2) the most promising candidates for the role in Donna On Demand, selected from the auditions, will perform in a “pop idol” style final competition in front of a live audience.

After the audition finals, a double feature of Corbin Bersen movies will be shown behind the High School, on the big screen from Big Sky Cinema.

Sunday, beginning at 10:30 am, a non-denominational worship service will be held on Main St.

At 1:30 pm, Premier Lorne Calvert will officiate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Medical Clinic on Fourth St.

The main housewarming program will begin at 2:00 p.m. from a stage on Main St.

Please note that for safety reasons, bikes, rollerblades and skateboards will not be allowed downtown.

Football fans: a big-screen TV will be set up for the Labour Day Classic game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

At dusk Sunday, a massive fireworks display will wrap up the day’s outdoor activities and signal the reopening of the beer garden at the Arena.

It should be a fun weekend to be in Kipling, as the community welcomes Kyle MacDonald and Dominique Dupuis with Saskatchewan’s Biggest Housewarming Party Ever!

Check for updates online at www.townofkipling.ca, www.oneredpaperclip.com or saskatchewfun.blogspot.com