There are only a few thousand people in this Northeastern Saskatchewan town, but they keep busy in the summer. Here’s what to do if you stop by for a visit:

1. Walk at the Doghide

The winding paths of the Doghide River Trail wander through forest, over streams and around a pond. You’ll share the space with runners, dog walkers and mosquitoes.

2. Drink at the Speedway

The atmosphere at the Tisdale Motor Speedway is half the appeal. The stands are full, the beer cans abound and the entertainment is great.

3. Explore the sanctuary

Tisdale is blessed to have the Jones Wildlife Sanctuary. It features a bunch of trails and lookouts so you can enjoy waterfowl. Bring rubber boots if you’re going early or late in the season.

4. Swim at the pool

We have a pool! It’s outside, it’s busy and it’s open for a short time. Enjoy it while you can!

5. Splash at the park

The Lions built a great splash pad, open until 10 p.m. every night in the summertime. I’m a little too old to have tried it out, but word on the street is, it’s a lot of fun.

6. Drive by the fields

I love watching the crops progress, from little sprouts in the mud to identifiable grains. August is my favourite, when the canola is at its best and brightest. Harvest sometimes starts in the summer – and that’s fun to watch too.

7. Learn at the museum

Tisdale & District Museum has tons of buildings, old cars and weird artifacts. People around here are collectors of things, and the best of those things end up at the museum. Bonus points if you visit on the biggest day of the year: July 1.

8. Play at the diamonds

Softball is the ultimate sign of summer in Northeast Saskatchewan. There’s a tournament every weekend and an adult league in the evenings. The team names are super entertaining: Here for Beer, Brew Jays, etc.

9. Bid at a mega-auction

Farm auctions here are simply out of this world. Thousands of people drive their trucks to a big lot where virtually everything is on sale. It actually messes with highway traffic. And it’s a see-and-be-seen kind of event for locals.

10. Sing in the square

Rockin the Square brings big-name bands to small-town Tisdale. Area bands open for the headliner, which this year was Loverboy. I can’t stress how much people love this event.

11. Enjoy the library

I’ll admit I’m biased here. I’m at the library once a week for my paper books, my audio books, etc, etc. They also run fun events throughout the summer for kids and adults.

12. Get hyped with the Tornados

In late summer, football comes to town. The high school team gets tons of support. There’s even a Friday Night Lights event early in the season.

13. Eat in a parking lot

Seriously. The grocery store parking lot has a fundraising barbeque almost every Friday in the summer. Hot dogs and hamburgers are on offer and if the healthy choices don’t make you feel good, the cause you’re contributing to certainly will.

14. Climb the travelling wall

Tisdale Day Camps has a travelling climbing wall that visits the big events in the area. Kids line up for the wall (no adults allowed), which gives parents a short break.

15. Throw candy in a parade

Okay, throwing candy isn’t allowed anymore. But walkers in the school’s-out parade do give out candy to kids who come prepared with plastic bags for their haul.

16. Fish at the pond

The Tisdale Wildlife Federation has a stocked trout pond next to the Doghide Trails. While I would prefer to get a stand-up paddleboard to lay on in the middle of the pond, most people fish, and some are successful.

17. Buy fresh fruits and veggies

The Farmer’s Market comes to town once a week and it’s a classy spot. Baked goods, jams, flowers, fruits, vegetables and excellent conversation are a guarantee. The vendors and their products are hyper-local.

18. Camp on the edge of town

Tisdale has a cute brand-new campsite on the edge of town where you’re close to the town’s attractions but far enough out to enjoy the quiet.

19. Golf at the Riverside

And if you’re camping in Tisdale, you’re a two-minute walk away from the Riverside Golf Course. They’ve been working hard on maintaining and upgrading the course, and it shows.