While still short on volunteers, organizers of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts say they may have just enough support to keep it going for another year.
“At this point, the festival probably will go ahead,” John Jankiewicz, president of the Rainy River District Music Festival Association, said Tuesday morning.
The association met Monday night to discuss the future of the festival. As reported in last week’s Times, a shortage of volunteers had left organizers wondering if they could hold the annual arts showcase again in 2003.
Jankiewicz said he’s received a few phone calls from people willing to offer their assistance during the final stages of the festival, but stressed they still needed more help if the event is to go ahead as usual.
“We still need like three people to work with the committee on year-round planning,” he noted.
The group still is facing challenges, such as the increasing cost of hosting the event and finding adjudicators. Jankiewicz said the next month will be critical in deciding if the festival continues.
He hoped by the association’s next meeting Nov. 4, there will be enough volunteers to ensure the arts community here will continue to have a venue to shine.