Always-popular smash-up derby this Sunday
MANITOWANING— Ready for a smashing good time? It’s that time of year again and the Southeast Manitoulin Lions Club is again inviting one and all to the 33rd annual Summerfest celebrations in Manitowaning.
Events get underway this Friday night at 7 pm with the start of the mixed slow-pitch tournament. All proceeds from this event go to support community hockey.
From 7 to 9 pm, the ever-popular ball hockey tournament takes place at the Manitowaning Arena. For more information or to register a team, contact Janet by emailing giblet_janet@hotmail.com.
For some toe tapping fun, the talented George Williamson will be serving up some all-time country music favourites from 7 to 9 pm in the Lions Pavilion. Admission is $5. The Lions will also be serving up some barbecue vittles, also starting at 7 pm, which can be washed down by an icy cold refreshment from the beer garden.
Get some delicious energy to fuel yourself for a day full of events at the Knox United Church pancake breakfast (from 9 to 11 am in the church hall) before finding the perfect spot to watch the parade, which begins at 10:30 am. This year’s theme is ‘Proud to be Canadian,’ celebrating the 50th anniversary of the flag, so dress up in your best red, white and maple! To register a float, contact Lion Marilyn Moggy at 705-859-2578.
Admission into the fairgrounds is $2 for adults.
Following the parade, there will be free games, bicycle races and prizes for the kids at the arena as well as a visit from Maple the milking cow, courtesy of Farquhar Dairy!
The horse show starts at 11:30 am at the horse ring in the fairgrounds. Watch local cowgirls and cowboys show off their horsemanship.
The beer gardens get underway at noon until 5 pm. Be sure to support the Lions barbecue and minor hockey snack booth too. Lions will also be out in full force selling 50/50 tickets. Be sure to support the club and their good works in the community.
The pavilion will once again be host to some great musical talent from 1 to 3 pm with a country jamboree featuring Island-wide musicians.
The Saturday night dance, with music by KICX FM 91.7, is always a big hit. Doors open at 9 pm until 1 am with tickets just $15 and available at the door. Make sure you bring your ID as this event is age of majority only.
Sunday is home to the piece de resistance of the weekend—the smash-up derby. For those not initiated in the ways of the smash-up derby, modified cars are pitted against one another in the centre of the Manitowaning fairgrounds with the goal of smashing one another out of contention (without hurting one another of course) for the grand prize of $800. An event not to be missed! The derby gets underway at 1 pm with derby registration, inspection and driver meeting on the race track at 11 am. Adults are $5, children 6 to 12 are $2 and children six and under are free. For more information, or to register your car, contact Lion Bill Smith at 705-859-3645 or Lion Gary Lewis at 705-859-3104.
