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Skydive into the Summer Festival

Mascot races, live shows and more
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The inaugural South Cariboo Summer Festival is building steam to be a huge and outstanding summer event at the South Cariboo Rec Centre. Aug. 11-12.

Organized by the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), the Festival will offer awesome fun, food, country-style competitions (from the best bakers and garden growers to the fastest lawnmowers) and lots of very exciting demos and fun activities.

SCCC manager Shelly Morton says the local business group is committed to bringing “a fantastic event” to the area – the first of its kind for the local Chamber and sponsored by its members.

The family-friendly festival is intended to bring residents of the South Cariboo an entertaining weekend with many activities, as well as an opportunity to showcase the community’s tourism and business opportunities to visitors, she explains.

“There has been enormous interest and support from the community, and we would like this to become an annual event.”

“We are planning a lot of activities and entertainment, and will be looking for sponsorship.”

Sponsors can have a booth at the event, and all will be featured in the festival advertising, including in the program. The SCCC is calling all non-profit organizations to advise and invite them to the opportunity to run a fun fundraiser at the event for their own society.

“Showcase your business or organization at our trade show. It will take place inside the arena, so book your booth soon, and join us this summer to enjoy the excitement of the festival.

“We are grateful for the $5,000 grant that was given to us from the Cariboo Regional District and the District of 100 Mile House [via the South Cariboo Joint Committee.

All the information on the Summer Festival will be finalized by mid-June, in a program booklet being produced by the 100 Mile Free Press, and interested businesses can arrange to advertise in it.

Free Press publisher Martina Dopf says she is busy working on the program for the festival now, and the complete list of events and activities will be finalized later in May. Contact her by e-mail at publisher@100milefreepress.com to place your ad.

There will be a variety of live entertainment throughout the festival, including a jam session on Friday night (Aug. 11) featuring Clancy Wright, and then the Silverado band on Saturday night (Aug. 12).

A Rib Fest Competition between local restaurants is also happening on Saturday, Aug. 12, where you can be the judge by contacting the Chamber office soon to purchase a limited ticket to enjoy the dinner they will prepare.

If you’d love to “drop in” – literally – you can even register for a parachute jump that will land you at the event. Kamloops Skydivers Club will be there, so for information or to book your own jump, visit the website at www.skydivekamloops.com/summerfest2017.

The Exhibition Hall will have a country fair-style competition for area residents to enter their home-grown vegetables, preserves, quilting, artwork, hobbies, pies and more. Entry forms are available at Canlan Ice Sports in the Rec Centre.

Events are being added to the list every day. A sneak preview of a few of the other fun activities that will be going on includes:

• A Kid Zone with Uncle Chris the Clown, many fun games and activities.

• Mow Down Show Down Lawn Mower Races (get your ride-on mower ready to enter).

• Farrier and Horse Whisperer demonstrations.

• A Home Run Derby baseball competition.

• Mascot Games (highly entertaining).

• A Pancake breakfast on Saturday morning.

• A Crib tournament.

The festival will also feature a trade show, so contact the SCCC to book your booth shortly by e-mail to manager@southcariboochamber.org, or call 250-395-6124.

Watch for more information and sign up forms in the program and to register for The Mow Down Show Down Lawn Mower Races, Home Run Derby, Rib Fest, Crib Tournament, Mascot Games, Sky Diving, Trade Show or Exhibits Contests.

More information will also be online soon on Facebook, under South Cariboo Summer Festival.