If you take the time to look at the Town of Carstairs events calendar, you will see a date for the 2025 horticulture show but not for the 2024.
It has been decided to see how many will miss this event.
I, for one, look forward to the annual event. I can recall moving to Carstairs in May 1982 and in July there was an arts and crafts exhibition put on by, I believe, the Marathon Arts and Crafts Group. Their name originated from the name of the real estate firm that was in charge of dispersing of the Carstairs Train Station. They were not successful, but kept the name.
There was also the horticulture show with flower girls and boutonniere classes. I am sure there is more information at the museum.
As time has marched on, so has the need to change our local events. Sad but true. Beef and Barley Days was full of events which have fallen along the way - roast beef replaced by smoked roast and Ella Bishops baked beans only a memory. Pig dressing pet show were some of the highlights I remember.
I would hate to see the horticultural show skip a year. It is always a yearly gathering place for locals who are into gardening, crafts and baking. The local children's entries has built in the past few years. It is such a pleasure to walk around the entries and admire the handiwork of each entry, stopping to congratulate the person behind the entry.
Families take pride in helping their kids get entries ready, whether lego, baking or flowers. It is a bonding time in our age of hurry up, to stop and spend leisure time together.
I will miss it, how about you? I volunteered the past three years with the horticultural committee, making time to ensure the show happens.
Will you miss it?
M. Kaczmarski,
Carstairs
