Another dip in attendance at this year's Rockin' the Rink has a main organizer thinking the time to re-evaluate the event has come.
"I would have to say numbers were down again," said Kevin Humphrey, who is also a Sundre Curling Club past president.
Roughly 200 people came out on Saturday, Sept. 30 to enjoy a meal and a night of rock and roll at the Sundre Curling Rink ó with live music once again being provided by the Chevelles ó to support the sixth annual fundraiser for the local curling club. The turnout was down slightly from last year's roughly 225, but the event had initially drawn out a crowd of more than 300 people, he said.
"It's slowly been dwindling since...the demand isn't there like it used to be."
However, the regulars who return every year have no regrets, he said.
"Everybody enjoyed themselves. The people who do go enjoy it," he told the Round Up, adding the food and music are great.
"It's a high-energy rock and roll show."
This year's event brought in about $6,600 ó up from last year's roughly $6,1000 ó he said last week after getting a chance to sort through expenses, including a paycheque for Sundre High School student workers who helped set and clean up as part of their efforts to raise funds for the annual West Coast trip.
"It takes a lot of work," he said about putting on the event.
"I do have a great team of volunteers and committee members who help me tremendously."
So despite the drop in numbers, he's not prepared to throw in the towel. Perhaps some people are starting to feel a certain repetition, and Humphrey said the fundraiser could instead potentially be held every other year. But a final decision has not been made, and organizers might well be swayed into keeping the event annual provided public interest warrants it.
"It's up in the air right now, as far as making a decision on that."
