The Parikino Sports Club is about to become one of the Grand Ol' Dame's of country fairs when it celebrates its 90th anniversary on March 3.
The celebrations will co-incide with the club's annual Parikino Horse Sports and when it comes to picnic sports days there are now few around the Whanganui district to beat Parikino.
The club has grown in leaps and bounds over the years with the sports held annually, except for three years during the second world war and several times more recently due to storms in the district.
The sports started from the local school sports and grew to the extent of more than 1000 paying at the gates during the 1930s.
Highland pipe bands attended with boats coming from Whanganui and Pipiriki for the sports. The Pipiriki boat used to stay the night for the major dance and social and would return the next day.