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Jarvie Days has new family focus

Jarvie Days are back for another year of fun and sun with a brand new focus on family-friendly entertainment.
Jarvie Days is set to return for another year of fun and activities July 23-24. The summer tradition will feature a parade, bocce tournament, slow-pitch and the always
Jarvie Days is set to return for another year of fun and activities July 23-24. The summer tradition will feature a parade, bocce tournament, slow-pitch and the always popular pie eating contest.

Jarvie Days are back for another year of fun and sun with a brand new focus on family-friendly entertainment.

Running July 23-24, this year’s festival will play host to its usual parade, bocce tournament, slo-pitch games, horseshoes and, of course, the pie-eating contest.

For over 40 years, the annual event has brought a steady rotation of events to the hamlet, and while its sports focus has worked well in the past, community council member Andrea Ross said the fest is making the change to keep up with shifting demographics.

“We always have the big ball tournament. Now we’re trying to have a more family-oriented environment,” Ross said.

“Our baseball diamond is beautiful, but a lot of people have small kids. They don’t want to sit there and watch while the parents play baseball,” she added.

Festival organizers have purchased a bouncy house and planned a full day of kids’ carnival events for Saturday.

The day gets started with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., baseball throughout the day and a parade at 11 a.m.

A silent auction will also be on Saturday, with proceeds going towards renovations at the Jarvie Community Hall.

Residents can find pie and coffee at the drop-in centre at noon with a concession and beer gardens running throughout the day for parents. The horseshoe tournament starts at 1 p.m., with bocce at 7 p.m., but the highlight of the day, she said, will be the return of lawnmower races.

Festival organizers are transforming the area behind the community centre into a Mario-Kart-tribute track, modeled after the popular 1997 Nintendo racing game.

Races start at 3 p.m. with several different horsepower categories.

Sunday kicks off with another pancake breakfast at 9 a.m., more slo-pitch at 10 a.m. and the pie-eating contest at 1 p.m.

Also new this year, residents will get to take in the festival’s first trade show, with more than 20 booths already signed up.

Vendors from Rochester to Slave Lake will be set up in the community hall, selling everything from fresh produce to pies.

Ross added that she hopes success with the trade show will allow the festival to expand even more in the future.

“We’re trying to get it to where families can come and stay all day,” Ross said.

“The community is always doing all of our harvest cooking and suppers, they’re always donating for our playground and skateboard park. It’s really nice to have something that they can come and bring their families to.”

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