Next stop, Rainy River!
This weekend marks the eleventh year that carloads of railroad fun will be celebrated at the annual Railroad Daze festival in Rainy River.
The festival is in the recognition of the importance the Canadian Northern and later Canadian National Railways played in the development of the community.
The celebration gets underway Thursday evening with family activities at the arena/recreation centre. The Riverview Elementary School Fundraising Committee will play host to the “Poor Boys” in a family-fun evening that will include a lip-sync/karaoke contest at 6:30 p.m. to be followed by a dance for all ages.
Entertainment will also be available at the CN Hotel when Snake Bite takes centre stage.
On Friday local business folk will roll onto the sidewalks with great sales. After lunch the library will host a book sale and the Catholic Women’s League will hold their annual penny table sale.
Live entertainment will come to the Legion when Fred Southwell will play in the clubroom both Friday afternoon and evening.
If you are looking for something good to eat there will be the annual favourite, the Rainy River Curling Club Fish Fry at the Legion Hall as well as a new attraction will be the first annual Rec. Board Burgers and Beer Tailgate Party at the Community Centre. That will also kick off the annual Railroad Daze Slowpitch Tournament.
One of the main attractions to Railroad Daze is the dances at the Recreation Centre and this year promises to be just as much fun with lower admission fees this year and great music to visit, dance and party too! Friday evening the Poor Boys featuring Rainy River’s own Dana Kaliska and Mike Lowes. That fun will begin at 9 p.m. and is restricted to ages 16 and up.
The CN Hotel will again feature Snake Bite that evening as well.
Saturday is the busiest day, beginning again with sidewalk sales and slowpitch games bright and early!
A special Farmer’s Market and another book sale by the library will also brighten up the day!
A horse shoe tournament will take place at 10 a.m. at Camp of the Woods just northwest of Rainy River near the buffalo farm.
The CWL penny tables will continue at the catholic church which will be followed by a special tradition the annual Railroad Daze luncheon in the same location.
At high noon another big draw to the Railroad Daze festival is the annual parade which promises to be bigger than last year’s again!
After the parade, a favourite of all kids, Bubbles the Clown will be performing her show at the Recreation Centre.
The annual Art and Flower show will be held at the Seniors Activity Depot in the afternoon.
Another matinee performance by Fred Southwell will be held at the Legion clubroom at 2 p.m. That evening a featured artist named Tannis T will entertain at the Legion Hall for a dance.
Other entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening will include an inflatable playhouse for kids and a musical evening with a Broadway theme featuring Stephanie Hawkins and Heidi Ivall.
Looking for something to eat? Well the Toy Library will be having a food booth at 2 p.m. and local restaurants will have featured specials all weekend long. There will also be the annual Steak Fry at the Legion Saturday night.
In addition to Tannis T at the Legion, Snake Bite will play at the CN Hotel again and at the Arena the roof will be rocked off the building when Streamline takes control of the party!
Sunday is a nice day for a drive in the country so why not venture out to Harris Hill and tour the restored one room school there.
Kids can unwind in yet another inflatable playhouse called Cameron the Caterpillar.
Slowpitch finals will culminate in the afternoon and guests will say their farewells to yet another fun weekend.
So track on down and have some fun this weekend.