Strong winds and the absence of fireworks couldn’t deter people from attending Beach Bash on Saturday.
More than 1,700 people paid to attend the fourth annual summer festival at the Woodlawn Regional Park’s Boundary Dam Beach Site, but the actual attendance was much higher, since the admission total didn’t include children seven and under, who got in for free.
Jackie Wall, the executive director of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, said it was a great event, and she was impressed with the attendance, since it was so windy outside, and a number of other events were happening in the Estevan area.
A beach volleyball tournament and a sand castle-building competition each attracted eight entries. The Estevan Humane Society offered face-painting. Other people lounged on the beach or cooled off in the water of Boundary Dam.
Sand sculptor Patricia Leguen demonstrated her skills by carving out a birthday cake made of sand, in honour of Beach Bash’s fourth year.
“She was very, very friendly, and she was able to help some of the kids, too, in the sand castle building competition,” said Wall. “She said she had lots of questions from the kids, and tried to take some time to help them and answer their questions.”
Several food trailers were also onsite.
A canoe-kayak demonstration was scrubbed because of the powerful winds that day. And the annual after dark fireworks show was cancelled because of the burning ban currently in effect in the City and Rural Municipality of Estevan.
“There was disappointment, for sure,” said Wall. “Everybody is disappointed when you don’t have fireworks. But the other events seemed to keep people happy.”
People were understanding, though, of why the fireworks were called off.
Entertainment kicked off in the afternoon with a visit by the Dave and Louie children’s show. It featured ventriloquism and illusions.
“The ventriloquist in the afternoon seemed to really get the kids involved, and they really seemed to enjoy his performance,” said Wall. “And he said he was quite impressed with it as well, because sometimes in an outdoor venue, kids are distracted by other things, but he was pleased with how it went.”
Live music was the big drawing card in the evening. Mascara was the opening act and Third Degree Birnz was the featured band.
“Sometimes in a beer garden situation, you have more people … sitting around and visiting, but people were up in front of the stage and … cheering on the band and enjoying the music,” said Wall.
The Saskatchewan Summer Games committee partnered with Beach Bash, and they supplied a lot of volunteers.
Wall is hopeful Beach Bash can remain a part of Estevan’s summer calendar. The city has taken over responsibility for tourism and economic development services from the chamber, which has been one of the partners for Beach Bash since the event’s inception.
It’s a very important event for the community, she said. It’s been a big success, and even when the weather hasn’t cooperated, it has attracted large crowds.
