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Hundreds check out What’s Hoppening in 100 Mile

Organizers consider making it an annual Easter event

More than 500 people turned out for the inaugural What’s Hoppening in 100 Mile House event Saturday, leading organizers to consider making it an annual event.

Organizer Donna Barnett said the attendance was five times more than she and her fellow volunteers had expected.

“The turnout is unbelievable. A bunch of women, about six of us, put this together over the last month,” Barnett said. “We couldn’t be more pleased. It gives us encouragement to do it again.”

The free event offered more than a dozen activities for children and families, including ring tosses, basketball, face painting, doughnut-eating challenges, bowling and Mal Wood’s Junior Firefighter Challenge obstacle course.

Wood said he was happy to finally run the full course again, for the first time in two years.

The course combines fun with important fire safety information.

“I think the event is fantastic. It’s what we needed after two years of being shut down,” Wood said.

The Easter Bonnet Contest, meanwhile, was also a huge hit, with 50 entries, and some “astronomical bonnets,” Barnett said.

Wilma Strand, of Lac La Hache, said she and four family members spent an entire day making their own custom bonnets using ball caps, straw hats and art supplies.

Other contestants created hats from scratch.

“It took a long time because my kids are seven and nine so they can’t use a hot glue gun quite yet but we had a very fun crafting day,” Strand said.

Jayna Reagan and Olivia Wood’s bonnets were judged to be the best in the children’s category, while Jocilyn Watson won the teenage category and Carol England and Doris Reich had the best seniors’ bonnets. All received gift baskets for their efforts.

Grace Yang, who came to the event with her family, said she thought the event was “pretty great.”

“It’s really fun. I’m surprised there are so many activities here,” she said.

The 100 Mile House Lions Club served up hot dogs and drinks at the concession, while Barnett said their free cotton candy and popcorn stalls also proved to be a hit with families.

When Barnett asked the crowd at the end of the festival if they wanted more events like this, their response was a resounding “Yes!”



Patrick Davies

About the Author: Patrick Davies

An avid lover of theatre, media, and the arts in all its forms, I've enjoyed building my professional reputation in 100 Mile House.
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