It's just about two months until the Innisfail Historical Village is set to open its doors for the season, and board member of the Innisfail and District Historic Society vice chair is looking for more members to get things geared up and ready for the summer.
"To be quite honest, we need some younger members on the board," said Carolyn Mick with a chuckle. She said the number of members fluxuates but said getting some fresh faces out to volunteer or join the board would help the group with their major events.
"We have three major events in the season and there isn't a lot of extra work in between."
She said their biggest event is Canada Day celebrations that typically draws upwards of 1,000 people to the village to play games set up for children and listen to the music groups they have perform.
They'll also be hosting a new event this year ó the antique car show will stop in Innisfail, with the cars set up over the August long weekend at the site. The museum will also have its own classic car show with a pancake breakfast earlier in the season, towards the end of May which Mick said will be their season opening event.
"We want anybody that would like to volunteer and plan events or just help us at the gates, servicing ice cream and whatever is needed."
She said board members are needed too, and people would be able to chair events. For Mick, the Christmas at the Village is her favourite project.
"It's a big deal we have a bonfire and hot chocolate for the kids and Santa comes on the fire truck. It's sort of like one of those movies where you see all the people in the town square." For her, it's this type of experience that keeps her coming back to volunteer.
"The benefit of joining is you have a good time because all of the events are a lot of fun."
She said the group is still working on getting the one-room log building from the former Poplar Grove to the site but is still "getting their ducks in a row" to pay for moving it over and laying a foundation.
Other projects on the horizon include offering a chili cook-off sometime this year.
"We will also be starting Friday teas the first Friday in June and we have our regulars that come out but anyone is welcome."
For anyone interested in joining call Mick at 227-2629 or the village at 227-2906.
