Jamie Mountain
The 36th-annual Nestor Falls Winter Carnival is expected to be a great time for all again this year.
Running March 2-4, the three days will be chock full of events at the community hall and various other locations around Nestor Falls.
The Friday will feature the Nestor Falls Fish Cook-Off & Dessert competition from 4-9 p.m. at the community hall.
“One of the things that we hope for every carnival is that the number of people attending are up from the year before,” remarked Nestor Falls rec committee member Howard Dodd.
“As always, we hope that the people attending the carnival have a great time.
“New this year is the dessert competition, being held on Friday night, alongside the fish cook-off,” he noted.
“The fish cook-off was new last year.”
There is no fee to enter the event, which people can do by contacting Pam (484-2103) or Ryan (271-3258).
But there is a $12 fee to vote for the best cook, with the meal to include fish, baked beans, coleslaw, a bun, and dessert.
The winner of the fish cook-off will receive a $150 Visa gift card while the dessert winner will be awarded a $100 one.
There also will be a cash bar (age of majority required).
As well, the cook-off will feature an attendance door prize of a fish cooker, sponsored by Helliar’s Resort.
Then on the Saturday, the ever-popular fish derby will take place from 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
The entry fee is $10 per person, with tickets available at Mel’s Marine, Dalseg’s, Gills’ Trading Post, Gordie’s Ice Road, Sunset Cove Resort, Bite Me Bait and Tackle, and Helliar’s Resort.
They also will be for sale on the Saturday at the community hall.
Fish check-in is from 3-4 p.m.
“We always hope for a good turnout,” said Dodd. “‘[At] last year’s carnival, we had more people from Minnesota than any other carnival before.”
“In speaking with a number of the people from Minnesota at last year’s carnival, they indicated to me that they would come back this year,” he enthused.
The participants’ draw prize for the fishing derby is a Rapala Tundra ice auger, sponsored by Helliar’s Resort.
Meanwhile, entries in the “Winter Theme Photo Contest” can be viewed from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Saturday.
There is no fee to enter this contest, and photos to be entered can be e-mailed to pam.shrumm@hotmail.com by next Wednesday (Feb. 28).
A silent auction also will take place at the hall from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
“Ralphie the Clown” will makes his appearance at the Nestor Falls Curling Club from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Blind curling also will take place there at 11 a.m., with no entry fee to participate.
The always-popular cribbage tournament will happen on the Saturday at the community hall, beginning at 11 a.m.
A dance–featuring music by DJ Maverick Judson–is planned for that night from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
There is a cover charge of $5 and there will be a cash bar (age of majority required).
Free safe rides home from the dance will be provided by North Air Taxi.
Then on the Sunday morning, the all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast goes from 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Sponsored by the Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls Fire Department, the breakfast costs $5 for adults and $2 for kids six and under.
The all-participants’ draw–a $500 Visa gift card–also will take place that morning.
“At the end of each carnival, the members of the Nestor Falls Recreation Committee know that we did the best that we could do in hosting the carnival,” said Dodd.
“This event brings in a lot of people, and that is good for Nestor Falls,” he reasoned.
Anyone looking for more information on the winter carnival can call Pam at 484-2103.
You also can check out the Nestor Falls Recreation Committee’s Facebook page for a complete list of the events and times.
