A look down Main Street during East Helena’s Food Truck Festival (Harley Robertson/The Monitor).
James Poe on his winning steer ride in East Helena (Mark LaRowe photo).
Algeria Shriners’ Whoopee Wagon during the July 12 rodeo parade (Harley Robertson/The Monitor).
James Poe with his father and first-place belt buckle (Harley Robertson/The Monitor).
East Helenans braved the heat to enjoy outdoor summer fun over the extended weekend, turning out in droves for a Food Truck Festival, a thrilling kids’ rodeo, and a parade down Main Street.
The July 10 Food Truck Fest, which occurs the second Thursday of every summer month and is sponsored by Joe Mitchell State Farm, kicked off at 4 p.m. and featured nearly a dozen food trucks, plus local craft beer, live music, and a bouncy house.
The scent of grilled meats and spices mixed with a strong smell of gasoline as attendees strolled, munched, and chatted. Visitors stopped to enjoy pierogis, steak tortas, pulled pork potatoes, and the lively tunes of Elliston folk duo Madrona.
“The pièce de résistance is the Double Barrel ice cream,” said Kim Reeser from Helena. “It’s way better than Haagen-Daas — it’s fabulous.” Reeser also praised the Highlander Taste truck’s Polish delicacies.
After its founding last summer, the East Helena Food Truck Fest seems to be gaining traction in its second year. As crowds thickened around 6 p.m., vendors like Heleburger and Double Barrel drew long lines stretching across the street. Reeser and other attendees noted the community spirit of the event.
“I just love that East Helena comes out to support stuff,” said Hannah Kessler from Cascade. “Anytime there’s anything out here, we try to come support it…and the music is lovely.”
Vendors Colleen and Jenny from Mother Daughter Bits & Bobs sold homemade crochet and knitted products. What did daughter Jenny enjoy most? “Just being out with the people and visiting,” she said, “being part of the community.”
Two days later, Main Street saw more action as the rodeo parade made its way through town. Lasting about half an hour, the parade featured an array of vehicles from local businesses and organizations like Starkey Fencing, Allen Earthworks, the local 4-H Club, and Algeria Shriners – who support Shriners’ Hospitals for Children.
The Shriners made a splash with their bright red, green, and yellow “Whoopee Wagon”, filled with license plates, and a tiny red car circling around it. In addition to semi trucks and classic cars, horses paraded Main Street as well, leaving small piles of stinkiness in their wake.
Later that day, a similar smell filled the air at East Helena Valley’s annual rodeo near Kleffner Ranch. Cars overflowed from the East Helena Rodeo Grounds parking lot and into the street, with the stands packed beyond capacity. The kids’ rodeo got off to a rocky start as competitor Dylan Stewart smashed his leg in the chute.
But then 12-year-old James Poe went out and swept the kids’ steer riding competition with the only qualifying score of 65, winning a silver glow-in-the-dark belt buckle. Poe said he felt great about his ride and earning his best score yet.
Poe has been riding steers since kindergarten, when his mom threatened to enter him in a rodeo in Townsend, his hometown. Her scare tactic backfired. “The first bull I rode, the scariest part was getting up over the gate of the fence,” he recalled. “The moment I got on — biggest smile ever.”