INNISFAIL - In just over a month there will be an unprecedented feast on Main Street, the 110-foot- long table kind.
Innisfail Town Theatre (ITT) is partnering with the Town of Innisfail to host the community's first-ever outdoor long table gala -- dubbed Feast on Main -- on Aug. 18. Beginning at 6 p.m., at the intersection of 50th Street and 50th Avenue, the event will run until 9 p.m. If it rains, Feast on Main will move to the Ol' Moose Hall.
"I think It's exciting for Innisfail to have something like this right in town, right on Main Street to highlight all of what Innisfail has," said The Jungle Farm's Leona Staples, a member of the event's organizing committee. "There will be tons of volunteers from businesses and organizations. I think it will be a real community builder, and it will support the arts. What better? It is going to be a great event."
While the long table concept is now being held in many communities across the province, it has only recently caught on in Central Alberta, notably at the annual Taste of Markerville, Red Deer's inaugural Harvest moon long table dinner last September, and The Jungle Farm's event in 2016.
"We did one a couple of years ago with all the proceeds going to the local 4-H Club. We focused on vegetables," said Staples. "This one is going to have a number of courses. We have skilled chefs. They are going to bring the event to a higher level."
Innisfail's first-ever long table gala is being held the same weekend as Alberta Open Farm Days, designed for farmers and ranchers to share their stories and offer demonstrations and tips about how they grow their food.
The culinary offerings from Feast on Main are also designed to showcase the best of what Innisfail food producers can offer.
"The idea is to promote and enhance not only Main Street but local produce and meat," said Norma Hoppins, a member of ITT and the Feast on Main organizing committee. "The three-hour culinary experience begins with local beverages and appetizers. Then, professional chefs (headed by Innisfail's Matt Burton) will prepare the meal using local vegetables and meats to create the Feast on Main.
"It's also about pride, in not only producing almost everything that goes into the table but pride for our Main Street. This is a community gathering," added Hoppins.
She said 100 tickets for seats at the six-course long table dinner will be sold for $100 each. Twenty other seats have been set aside for sponsors, she said, adding proceeds from Feast on Main will be going to youth groups and other local charities with an emphasis on promoting the arts in Innisfail.
In the meantime, Hoppins is busy assembling a full crew of 60 volunteers for Feast on Main, which so far has not been a problem as many have enthusiastically come forward. "They are excited and proud of this," said Hoppins. She added there is already the crew of Debbie Carter, Bev Bovey and Terresa Dersch handling long table decorations, while 20 volunteers from Kinections Fitness Studio will serve the food to guests. Hoppins also noted members of the Innisfail and District Historical Village are bringing in vintage vehicles to frame each end of the long table.
"It is going to be a beautifully set table. That alone will be worth the price of a ticket," said Hoppins.
For more information on Feast on Main, or if more citizens want to volunteer, they can contact Hoppins at 403-227-4144.
Hoppins said tickets for Feast on Main can be obtained online through Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.ca) and locally at RE/MAX Compass at the Co-op Mall.
