There’s more than fishing going on in Rainy River District this weekend.
Chapple Heritage Days at the Both Farm, located four miles north on Barwick Road, will be taking place this Friday evening and during the day on Saturday.
“It will be pretty much the same as last year,” noted Rilla Race of the Chapple Heritage Committee, which organizes the event.
“But this year, if the weather holds out, they plan to do a threshing demonstration with an old-time thresher,” she noted. “So it would be great if people popped out to have a look.
“It should be interesting.”
Chapple Heritage Days has been held annually since 2000.
The Friday evening events begin at 7:30 p.m. and include a bonfire, wiener roast, music, and homemade ice cream. People are asked to bring their own lawn chairs.
“It’s a nice social get-together,” Race remarked, noting Friday tends to be more local people, with Saturday bringing out families from across the district.
“People just meet and greet around the campfire,” she added.
Race also said the event seems to grow each year it is held, estimating about 100 people attended Friday’s get-together last year and more than 300 joined in the activities on Saturday.
“So we hope it’ll be bigger and better this year. I expect a good turnout,” she noted.
Saturday’s events, which run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., will include antique tractor, lawnmower, and 4-wheeler pulls, whippet and horse and wagon rides, a hatchet hunt, a watermelon-eating contest, a kids’ coin hunt, a tug o’ war, and much more.
Lunch is available for purchase.
“You can pack a lot into a day,” Race said. “It’s a beautiful location to hold it.
“And in addition to the events, there are also the old farmhouse, blacksmith shop, and other farm buildings for people to see, if they haven’t already.”
She explained the annual event is all run by the help of volunteers.
“Our community just comes through tremendously every year,” Race enthused. “And we have people helping out from across the district, not just people from Chapple, so we really appreciate it.”
Race also noted they are crossing their fingers for good weather for the event, stressing everyone is welcome to attend.
“It’s a family function—anyone can come at any point in the day or on Friday,” she said. “It’s a very nice time from the community to get together.”
There is no admission to attend Chapple Heritage Days, but proceeds from Saturday’s lunch will go to support the Chapple Museum.
The museum also will be open Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
“People can stop by and check it out on their way in or way home,” Race said. “There’s always new things there, so it’s an added attraction to the day.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
