PORT HARDY—The 2014 Mount Waddington Regional Fall Fair organization is well under way, and a theme has been chosen: “CASTING A NET - Capturing the Arts of the North Island”.
“Booth rentals are already coming in, and organizers encourage everyone to take advantage of this great idea for promoting your club or business, and even doing fundraising and sales,” said Brenda Fleeton of the Fall Fair committee.
Exhibit lists and booth rental forms are now available at the following locations: libraries in Port Alice, Port Hardy and Port McNeill, the Port Hardy and Port McNeill Chambers of Commerce, and the Hobby Nook in Port Hardy.
For parents seeking a project for children for a rainy day during the summer, the exhibit list contains hundreds of craft ideas for children of all ages. Organizers also encourage North Islanders to take lots of photos over the summer – they are the fair’s fastest-expanding section. Forms should be available soon on the fair website: www.mountwaddingtonfallfair.ca.
“As our decorating theme is based on fishing, we expect that decorating for the buildings and booths should be easy this year and look forward to some great ideas,” said Fleeton. “Our decorating committee is looking for the donation of used, broken or unwanted fishing gear for decorations: nets, rods or reels, floats, buoys, life jackets, life-buoy rings, etc. If you have something we can use please contact Sherri Whitehead at sherriwhitehead@yahoo.ca, or the Fleetons fleeton@telus.net.”
The committee is seeking a person or group interested in organizing a children’s play area with crafts and/or games, face-painting, etc. Members also encourage businesses and non-profit groups to think about running food booths as fund-raisers: bake sales, sandwiches, pies, snacks and more.
“It’s a great way to make a lot of money in a short amount of time,” said Fleeton.
If you are interested in either of these ideas, call Christina Hinton at 250-956-4400.
Annual cooking challenge
In keeping with the fishing theme, this year’s cook-off will be done live on-site, and the theme is seafood chowders. Entrants will bring their own propane cookstoves or cookers and prepare their chowders under a shelter outside – the results will be judged on the arena stage, and left-overs may be sold to the lucky audience.
“We don’t care if you’re a pro, an amateur, or a rank beginner,” said Fleeton, “we promise some nifty prizes, and there will be enough glory to go around.”
Fair organizers will be looking for exhibit judges for the Friday evening, September 5, as well as volunteers for the entrance table and for accepting exhibit entries earlier on the Friday. If you are interested you are welcome to send your name and phone number in to Brenda Fleeton (fleeton@telus.net) or to Pat Boyd at 250-956-4204.