Looking for something special to do Thanksgiving weekend? Plan to come to Sicamous Beach Park to take part in Harvest Fest, Friday, Oct. 7, 3 to 7 p.m., put on by the Sicamous Community Event Committee (SCEC). On Saturday, be sure to check out the Artisan Show at the Seniors Centre on Shuswap Avenue. This event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 pm., and is sponsored by the newly formed Artisans’ Guild.
For the Harvest Fest, the Switzmalph Cultural Society will be on hand to help celebrate the harvest. Starting at 3 p.m., the Switzmalph Cultural Society will present informative, cultural and historical displays, demonstrate and invite families to participate in the traditional harvest activity of ‘bulrush mat weaving,’ and have storytellers in traditional dress share aboriginal legend by the glow of a harvest bonfire.
Between 6 and 7 p.m., there will be a story-telling competition, open to all ages and with people’s choice judging. This is a family event, so your story, factual or fictional, must be appropriate for ears of all ages. Storytellers need to pre-register their interest and nature of the story, prior to presenting, with Pam at 250-515-1692, or with a designated story catcher on the day of celebration.
Alongside the sharing of aboriginal tradition, the SCEC is planning for an exhibition of Canadian harvest tradition through the following contests: family pumpkin sculpting, the scariest family scarecrow, the best home-baked pie and the best home-grown garden harvest, with three categories: Best produce basket, Best organic produce basket, Best dried flower basket.
The afternoon’s events begin at 3 p.m., and all contest entries must be in place at the Beach Park by 4 p.m. for judging.
The pumpkin sculptures can be done at home or at the Beach Park on the day – pumpkins and tools will be available at the event. Scarecrows, produce and flower baskets should be created at home and will be judged by people’s choice between 4:30-6:30, at which time they will also be open for the public to bid on as silent auction items, a fundraiser for the Lion’s Park Project.
The pie contest will be judged by three people, and the job of being a best-pie judge is also up for bidding on as a fundraiser for the Lion’s Park Development Project. Bid sheets for the joy of judging the pies will be placed at the Sicamous District office.
Cut off date and time for the bid for judging is noon, Oct. 7. The winners of all the harvest contests will be announced at 7 p.m.
Plan to have your supper at the Beach Park with the Lion’s Chuck Wagon, there from 4 p.m. onwards, serving up hamburgers and hot dogs alongside ‘an old-fashioned, husks on, corn roast’ and a best piece of pie, slice sale. All proceeds from Friday’s events go towards the Lion’s Park.
Saturday’s Artisan Show, a unique shopping and art experience, starts at 11 a.m.
To register for a spot at the show, call Terry at 250-836-4613. Don’t miss either of these unique Sicamous events.
Submitted by the Sicamous Community Event Committee