It wasn’t even lunchtime yet and already the ever-growing crowds and the smiles on kids’ faces pretty much said that the Outlook Harvest Festival should become a yearly event in the community.
Presented by the Outlook & District Chamber of Commerce, the festival made something of a comeback in 2017 after similar events were held in town seemingly a lifetime ago. And by all accounts, it certainly seemed to be welcomed back with open arms by those in attendance.
The overall goal of the event seemed to be to offer something for everyone regardless of age, and in that regard, organizers hit the proverbial bull’s eye; at the museum was a bale maze for people to make their way through, while a kids carnival area on the north part of Franklin Street provided face-painting, train rides, games, treats and prizes.
Meanwhile, everything else on the central part of the street was a mixed bag of things to do and see; a trade show atmosphere allowed local vendors and business owners to network with prospective customers and the attending public, and entertainment on the stage located by the post office included Caliber, the River Bottom Boys, a group of Latin dancers, and Marcia Orton. Further games included a dunk tank, as well as the Outlook Fire Department’s house fire game where young, would-be firefighters grabbed a hose and put out wooden flames by knocking them down with a watery stream. As well, there was plenty on the menu if you came with an empty stomach; a fish fry behind the Bank of Montreal had a steady stream of customers, as did line-ups for souvlaki & corn on the cob, as well as burgers and hot dogs.
Behind the Home Hardware in the outdoor rink area were games of ball hockey, as well as a life-size board game. In addition, another stage was set up for the dance held later that evening to wrap up the event, with Tanner Barton (aka DJ T-Bart’s) on music duties.
Perhaps the most anticipated event during the festival for some was the garden tractor races held in the afternoon. There were two heats of competition featuring five registered drivers, and the action proved to be a fan favourite as people lined both sides of Franklin Street. In the end, plaques were awarded for the Oldest, Fastest and Most Creative tractors, and the recipients were Ted Hurd (Oldest) and young Carter Wright (Fasted, Most Creative).
As the late afternoon started to approach, many vendors and exhibits started packing up for the day, and attention soon moved to the outdoor rink area, where a pulled pork supper was served and the dance began at dusk to wrap up the festival.
With a massive turnout and a long list of activities and attractions for people to take in, the Harvest Festival was almost a literal ‘blockbuster’ as the streets of downtown Outlook came alive with the sound of enjoyment, entertainment, and undoubtedly a fair share of memories made. The tireless work behind the scenes of the committee and helpful volunteers, including Blake & Hannah Taylor, Colin & Sharon Bruce, Phil & Jocelyne Petryshyn, Matt Dick, Troy Simonson, Curtis Andrew, Bree Campbell, Kevin Grotheim, and Nicole Richards, shouldn’t go unnoticed, and it remains to be seen what the 2018 edition of the event has in store for the community.
