Traill County is full of opportunities for recreation and entertainment. The county boasts updated baseball and softball fields in several of the communities, and a wellness center in Mayville and fitness center in Hillsboro provide those communities with state-of-the-art equipment for exercise and health. Mayville and Portland also boast a hockey arena and archery range, respectively.
Wherever you go in Traill County, the parks provide year-round enjoyment with swimming pools, playground equipment, picnic sites, ice skating rinks and even horseshoe pits and disc golf.
Traill County also is home to a number of community and county celebrations.
Buxton
Buxton Improvement Group (BIG) hosts Buxton Family Fun Day each summer. Among the many events included are a parade, classic car show, volleyball, dodgeball and 5K family walk/run. The evening is capped off with a fireworks display.
Hatton
Hatton’s Fourth of July celebration always draws a crowd with several events including a parade and demolition derby. The community, home to the Hatton-Eielson Museum, held its first “Christmas in Hatton” celebration in 2017, and for the past few years, Hatton has played host to the Traill County Relay for Life fundraiser.
Hillsboro
Hillsboro Days, typically the third weekend of June, features a 5K/10K walk/run, parade, bean bag tournament, fishing derby, tractor pull and draft horse pull, to name a few exciting activities. Every fall the town hosts a homecoming parade and pep rally to support the Hillsboro-Central Valley Burros, and winter activities include a community Christmas party.
Mayville
Mayville hosts Summerfest and Winterfest each June and December, respectively, and both festivals feature events and fundraisers at various businesses and other locations around Mayville, a parade and dozens of other family-friendly activities. The Cruise to the Island car show brings a bevy of classic cars to town, and the Farmers Bowl takes place at Mayville State University each fall. This tribute to the university’s farming heritage features a parade, football game and various fundraising events.
Reynolds
Reynolds Community Betterment organizes several activities throughout the year, such as family game nights, community dinners and holiday events. The Reynolds Rib O’ Rama cook-off draws competitors from all over the region to to vie for the title of best ribs and baked beans, and the Community Christmas Party later in the year gives families the chance to get together for an evening of games, treats and a meet-and-greet with Santa.
Traill County 4-H
Various 4-H clubs participate in the annual 4-H Achievement Days, held each summer in Hillsboro. 4-H youths participate with both static and live exhibits, including the always popular, friendly farm animals.
Traill County Historical Society
The Traill County Historical Society hosts an old-fashioned ice cream social every Fourth of July on the grounds of the Plummer House, Traill County’s museum located in Hillsboro. The Historical Society also organizes its Christmas Extravaganza each holiday season. The Christmas Extravaganza dinners feature a turn-of-the-century-style feast in the Plummer House, which is decked out for the holidays.
***Thank you to the Hillsboro Banner and Jacobson Studio in Mayville for the use of their photos.
