The Meridian Source looks back at events from August 2025.
Maria’s Days celebrates 55 years and renovations
Maria’s Days drew big crowds celebrating not just Maria’s, but a milestone for Spiro’s Restaurant and a new look.
Events ran at Spiro’s in Lloydminster from Aug. 7-9 and celebrated Marias.
“It’s my name day and my name day happens to be the biggest holiday in Greece,” explained Maria Kokonas, owner of Spiro’s, who runs the business alongside her mom and dad, Spiro and Tina Kokonas. “It’s the day they
celebrate all Marias.”
Festivities kicked off Aug. 7 with a night market in the Spiro’s parking lot.
“I think we had about 45 vendors,” said Kokonas. “It’s big for the vendors. They’re set up by four, open their markets at five and go right till 8:30 p.m.”
As far as renovations go, Kokonas explained the functionality of the dining room didn’t change but the kitchen was redone following last year’s fire. New additions to the kitchen include a new floor and a double oven, totalling three pizza ovens.
Frenchman Butte festival wows
The 34th annual Frenchman Butte Museum Festival brought hundreds to the small community to learn about history and take in activities.
The festival, held on Sunday (Aug. 10), started with a church service before the museum buildings opened and eventgoers packed the area.
“It’s kind of our annual festival. We have it every year and have entertainment and a few demonstrations going on,” said Glen Grant, vice-president of the Frenchman Butte Museum.
“We’ll have the blacksmith open, they do rope making, and the fur guy is here. Some of the booths are selling books and our museum trinkets. A couple of artists, they’re new this year.”
Lloyd celebrates past with Heritage Day
Lloydminster’s history was on full display at Weaver Heritage Park on
Aug. 4 with Heritage Day activities.
The annual event kicked off with a pancake breakfast and wrapped up with a tractor parade.
Hosted by the Barr Colony Heritage Society and the Lloydminster Museum and Archives, the day included wagon rides, a petting zoo, games and activities for kids and antique farming equipment.
LABIS: 40 years of brain-injury support
Lloydminster and Area Brain Injury Society (LABIS) is preparing to celebrate a major milestone.
Next year, the non-profit will mark 40 years of helping people in the region live better after a brain injury.
“There was just nothing in town that helped them or a place for them to go,” said former director of operations Verna Haight. “So, they created LABIS and it’s been going strong for almost 40 years.”
Now operating out of a bright, accessible space with programs to help participants build skills, confidence and friendships, LABIS has grown from that grassroots start to a recognized local service.
Lori Craven another heart-warming success
The sun came out as folks from as far as Calgary shaved their heads at the 24th annual Lori Craven Memorial Tournament.
Ball players, volunteers and spectators of all ages packed Driven Energy Legion Ball Park on Aug. 16 and 17 for the annual tournament. The two-day event featured 32 teams and a handful waiting in the wings to be added to the schedule.
According to organizers, this year’s tournament raised $105,000 through donations and the shaving of heads and beards, which are live auctioned each year on Sunday afternoon.
Funds raised go directly to local and area families with health and financial struggles.
“Illness affects everyone. No matter who you are, everyone’s going to know someone,” said co-committee member Deanna Wandler. “To me, this tournament means coming together; the community comes together. Seeing the fun everyone has and the contributions people make is amazing.
“The kids here today grow up around this tournament and one day they’ll be playing in it. Everybody is so amazing and supportive.”
Boundary gives back with Bronco Big Bend
Boundary Ford presented the keys to a 2025 Bronco Big Bend to Merle Hagle, who won the Boundary Auto Wars raffle in support of the Lloydminster Exhibition.
The raffle featured the Bronco, a 2025 Polaris Ranger and a 3,200-watt
generator. Winners were drawn at The Ex at the end of the inaugural
Boundary Auto Wars on Aug. 2.
“I’ve always supported stuff and given a lot to charity,” said Hagle on
Aug. 11. “The Ex does a lot, and what they do in the community is helpful. It’s
amazing what they bring to our community.”
Boundary also presented keys for a 2025 Polaris Ranger side-by-side to Kiera Oliver, who was standing in for her boyfriend, James Davies.
“The Ex has always been a good partner with us and we’ve done multiple things with them. They are one of the organizations that keep our community connected,” said Boundary’s general sales manager, Sean Blanchette.
“As they continue to be involved in the community, we want to make sure we’re involved with really big events to help out.”
Boundary’s support in the community goes beyond the Exhibition as they’re the title sponsor for the Sirens and Sapphires event in support of the Lloydminster Rescue Squad in October.
Wagon family helps rider get back in saddle
This year’s Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association finals concluded with smiles and happy tears as Kennedy Langevin got a second chance at life.
Thanks to the help of the chuckwagon community, specifically the Brad McMann Racing team, Langevin will be getting back in the saddle after a serious barrel-racing accident three years ago that left her with a traumatic brain injury.
“She was pretty banged up, and they didn’t know if she was going to make it. She had to fight for a long, long time,” said Brad McMann, who gifted
Langevin one of his horses named Baby after championship Sunday at
Halstead Downs.
“We promised Kennedy, if she was willing to get walking again, that Baby was hers. Then it snowballed into Lionel Romanchuk jumping on board and building her a custom saddle, and donations started rolling in to help with it.”
McMann first met Langevin during spring training as her brother, Quinn, is one of McMann’s outriders.
Read more: City begins next steps in permitting contract
