MANITOWANING—Mark your calendars for a weekend of fun and festivities as the Southeast Manitoulin Lions Club hosts Summerfest from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21 in Manitowaning. This year’s event promises an exciting lineup of activities for all ages, ensuring a memorable experience for the entire community.
The Expositor caught up with club president Lisa Hallaert to discuss this year’s events. Lion President Lisa told The Expositor, “We’re really excited because this year we have a new truck-pull event which promises to be a lot of fun. We hope that the community will come out and support it so that we can make this an annual event. There’s still a lot of spots for registrations in this event and interested parties should reach out to register.” Interested parties can visit the Southeast Manitoulin Lions Club Facebook page or contact Larry Lacappelain at (705) 491-2670. Lion President Lisa added, “We’re also really excited because we have a huge amount of registrants for the Demolition Derby this year, which is always a lot of fun.”
The festivities for the weekend kick off on Friday, July 19 at 5 pm with the opening of the always popular Jim Case Memorial softball tournament. Lion President Lisa told The Expositor, “The tournament is always a big draw, and often the tournament fills up a year in advance. The winners of the tournament will have their names engraved on the tournament’s trophy and will also win a cash prize.”
Families are invited to join the Family Glow Dance hosted by Noojmowin Teg from 6 to 8 pm. The night will continue with the “Party in the Pavilion” featuring live music by Rural Roots from 8 pm until midnight. In speaking about the event, Lion President Lisa expressed a lot of excitement at that band’s presence. “They’re a really good band and they play a mix of music. It’s mainly rock, but it’s a good mix of classics and more contemporary songs.”
Saturday, July 20 is packed with events starting with a pancake breakfast at Knox United Church from 9 to 11 am. At 11 am, the much-anticipated parade begins, celebrating 50 years of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, which serves as the main theme. From 11 am to 3 pm the vendors’ area will be open, offering a variety of goods and treats. “At this time, we have about 20 vendors registered, but more room is always possible. Anyone interested in having a booth is welcome to contact the club, and we can add them in there. The Kids’ Zone will keep the little ones entertained from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, while music in the pavilion starts at 1 pm.”
Saturday night wraps up with a 19+ dance from 9 pm to 1 am, offering a great way to unwind and enjoy the community spirit.
The grand finale on Sunday, July 21 is the highly anticipated Demolition Derby, where participants will showcase their driving skills in a thrilling spectacle of crashes and excitement.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can enjoy a 50/50 raffle, barbecue, bar and a canteen hosted by Manitowaning Minor Hockey.
For more information, visit the Southeast Manitoulin Lions Club Facebook page or contact Larry Lacappelain at (705) 491-2670. Vendors interested in participating can also reach out via Facebook. Lion President Lisa told The Expositor, “This year, we really need help in making sure that the event goes smoothly. We could really use more volunteers as some of our key members have recently been unwell, or otherwise unable to attend as they normally would. In particular, we need help with bartenders and servers. They need to be at least 18 years of age and have their Smart Serve certification. We also need help with the 50/50 raffle tickets, but we won’t turn away anyone who wants to lend a hand in whatever capacity they may want to.” Anyone wishing to lend a hand to a good cause and have fun doing it can contact Lion Lisa directly at (705) 348-1796.
Join the Lions for what promises to be a great weekend of community, fun, and festivities at the South East Manitoulin Lions Club’s Summerfest!
