While it may be three weeks away, the Fun in the Sun committee already is gearing up for the big three-day summer celebration.
“It’s starting to shape up. But we welcome any events in the community,” said FITS committee member Laurie Beadle. “The more there is to do, the better.”
Whether it’s holding a bake sale or children’s activity, any group, organization, or service club with an idea can contact Beadle (274-5341), Paul Bock (274-5301), or Dawn Booth (274-5773).
But in the meantime, the committee has lined up a number of events to keep the community in the spirit of summer and Canada’s birthday.
What would Fun in the Sun be without royalty? The FITS queen committee has six candidates lined up to vie for this year’s crown, including April Matheson (364 Food Store), Jade Whitefield (Pharmasave), Lindsay Cawston (Armstrong Construction), Ashley Sisco (Rainbow Motel), Joanna McQuarrie (Skates & Blades), and Sarah Hebert (La Place Rendez-Vous).
By mid-June, the contestants will be selling their buttons around town for $2 each. Their first scheduled event is a car wash June 23 at Canadian Tire (cost is $3).
They also will attend other community events throughout the month.
The entertainment night, slated for June 24 at the Townshend Theatre, once again will be heart of the queen competition. Tickets will go on sale soon for $5, and be available at any of the sponsor businesses and from the contestants.
The crowning, which will be preceded by a picnic basket auction, is slated to take place July 1 under the tent at Pither’s Point. Prizes will be given out then to the contestants, including a $2,000 scholarship for the winner and a $1,000 one for the First Princess.
Wood’s Sewing Machines once again is sponsoring the annual mini-queen contest.
Registrations will be accepted at the store starting June 15. Contestants must be aged four-seven and be residents of Rainy River District.
The crowning will take place June 30 at 11:30 a.m. at the Memorial Sports Centre. All candidates are guaranteed a prize.
Meanwhile, Scott Street will be the place to be June 28 when the BIA holds its annual Mall Day. Downtown businesses will be serving up all sorts of savings with sidewalk sales, and inflatable playsets for kids will be set up at various locations around the downtown area.
The Fort Frances Highlanders pipe band will be performing at noon.
One change this year is that Scott Street will not be closed to vehicular traffic during Mall Day (rain date is Friday, June 29).
The Fort Frances Public Library will host its popular “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” on June 29. Tickets for that are to go on sale soon.
Then Culturama will be staged at the Memorial Sports Centre on June 30. Ticket cost is yet to be determined but the Rainy Lake Multicultural Association has promised a line-up of six acts with international flavour, as well as a variety of food.
Entertainment will be split into two sessions–one at 12:30 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.
Finally, Canada Day festivities will kick off with the annual Royal Canadian Legion pancake breakfast from 7-9:30 a.m. at the Legion.
The parade once again will leave from the old CN station at 12:30 p.m. and go down Scott Street to the Memorial Sports Centre.
All community clubs, groups, and organizations are encouraged to participate in the parade by entering a float. Carrying on the spirit of Culturama, this year’s theme is “Around the World–Celebrating Cultural Diversity.”
If you would like to enter a float, contact Booth at 274-5773.
Then the July 1 celebration moves out to Pither’s Point Park, with a professional water-ski show at 2 p.m., a 50/50 bingo, bathtub races at 3:30 p.m., children’s games and activities, as well as the queen crowning.
And when the sun goes down, the sky once again will light up with fireworks over Sand Bay, finishing off the Canada Day celebration with a bang.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
