Chapple Days just around the corner

Lots of new activities, a new route for the canoe races, and homemade ice cream will greet visitors in Barwick this weekend for the fourth-annual Chapple Days this Friday and Saturday.
The route usually takes canoeists from one point to another, but this year’s race will be completely different, said race organizer Marlin Carr.
“Instead of going from Manitou to Chapple, about four miles, they’ll do 30 laps around the island,” he remarked. “That way, the crowd has more impact.”
New water events include water slides and a water skiing demonstration from John Fuhrer at 2:30 p.m., Carr added. “We’re going to auction off a canoe to raise money for the museum’s wheelchair accessibility bathroom.”
Chapple Days begin at 7 p.m. this Friday with a bonfire at the Both farm. “Gerald Carr will be there making homemade ice cream this year,” said organizer Rilla Race.
It’s hard to believe that Chapple’s canoe races started only four years ago, so entrenched has it become as a community event.
“It started in 1999, We had our first canoe race for the centennial year,” said Race.
“It’s going to be great, with perfect weather this year,” she joked. “It’s a very full schedule, but it all works together. When the activities at the Both farm are finishing up [from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday], other things get started.
“We’ll have two pontoon boats [starting at 1 p.m. Saturday], and Harold Kellar brings his horse and wagon,” she added.
The St. Paul heritage building will be open from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, with Shirley Brown there will playing the organ, and the Chapple museum will be opened for extended hours in the evening, thanks to the summer student.
Rod Salchert will be on hand for the canoe race play by play.
“He is wonderful, he always does that for us,” Race said.
Registration for the canoe races begins at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and the race kicks off at 3:30.
“There’s no pre-registration so you never know how many will show up,” Race noted.
Chapple Days will end once again with a fish fry at the hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, and $6 for children seven and under.