The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
December 10, 2004. "Denare festival canceled" reads the surprising, unwelcome headline in The Reminder. "The 27th Annual Denare Beach Winterfestival has been canceled due to a declining level of community support," states the story. Residents are saddened. A popular winter tradition of people young and old has come to an unceremonious end. What a difference a few weeks can make. Not only did a team of volunteers soon step forward to rescue the festival, they're promising one of the biggest and best winter get-togethers in the village's history. Now excitement is building as the festival that wasn't supposed to happen kicks off in just one week. "We will have events for all ages, so it's going to be a great time to get out and and have some fun and socialize," said recreation director Natasha Thomson. Organizers have introduced a sprinkling of new activities for the weekend, including animal calling, log sawing and nail pounding contests, as well as a family fun ski and a mutt pull for children and their dogs. New as well is the Winterfestival Auction, where top bidders will take home items such as a handmade log bed frame and a Karaoke machine. Thomson and her volunteers have also reached into the festival's past, bringing back the sled dog races on Amisk Lake and the ever-popular arm wrestling competition. Of course all of the old favourites will return, including the Snowmobile Rally, a dart tournament, horse-drawn wagon rides and the Family Fishing Derby, to name but a few. Thomson heaped praise on the volunteers who came forth to make it all happen. "I am impressed with the enthusiasm of the committee," she said. "They are really hardworking and are sticking to it." For a complete schedule of next weekend's festival, see pg. 20. More volunteers are still needed. If you'd like to lend a hand, phone 362-2170.
