‘Quest’ deadline tomorrow

With the deadline to sign up tomorrow, “Quest for the Best” organizer Dawn Booth is keeping her fingers crossed that more talent comes out of the woodwork to participate in the annual singing contest.
“We’ve only got a handful of people signed up—six. But I know there are a lot of people who have picked up forms and said they would enter,” Booth noted late yesterday afternoon from the Chamber of Commerce office.
“We will extend the deadline if needed, but we don’t want to,” she added. “The sooner we know who is competing, the better. And of course, the band still has to learn their songs.”^Booth said she wasn’t sure what would happen if more acts didn’t sign up to compete at the event, which is scheduled to take place July 23 (in conjunction with the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship) under the big tent at the Sorting Gap Marina.
A total of 20 acts—whether solos or duets—can sign up. Contestants must be at least 14 years old.
The cost to enter is $25 per solo and $35 for a duet. Entry forms can picked up at the Chamber office (474 Scott St.), B93-FM, Rainy Lake Hotel, or Memorial Sports Centre.
They then must be dropped off at the Chamber office with the entry fee.
Contestants will be vying for first-place ($500), second-place ($300), and third-place ($200) purses, as well as cash prizes for two People’s Choice, Contestants’ Choice, Most Original, and Audience Response awards.
Tickets will go on sale in the next couple of weeks, said Booth, adding 1,500 will be printed. She noted the cost will be the same as last year—$12 in advance and $15 at the door—and she’s hopeful it once again will draw a sell-out crowd.
More than 1,200 attended last year.
One thing different this year is that “Quest” will be followed by more entertainment—in this case, adult hypnotist Tyzen Paley—so those who buy a ticket for “Quest” can stay for the second show.
Meanwhile, Booth wants to remind people the route for the Canada Day parade, which will take place at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, won’t travel down Scott Street from the CN station as it has in past years.
Instead, it will start at the Shevlin wood yard, go down Front Street, turn north onto Victoria Avenue, and then east down Scott Street to the Memorial Sports Centre.
She said while this means the parade won’t go past the downtown core, it would tie in with the grand-opening of the La Verendrye Parkway (Front Street), which is slated for 10 a.m. on July 1.
Booth added she still needs individuals and groups to enter floats in the parade, as well as volunteers to help line up the parade and to judge floats.
The parade’s theme is “Celebrating a Century of Prosperity & Promise,” and prizes will be given out to the best decorated floats.
Those interested can call her at 274-5773.