SUNDRE – Even though the inaugural Sundre Harvest Street Festival didn’t quite get a chance to get off the ground, the organizer of the event that was cancelled barely two weeks before it was set to go fully intends to give it another go next year.
But for the second crack at the bat, Moe Fahey said she wants to start planning with much more time in advance.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, the community-building event, which among other activities was to feature a push-cart derby with multiple age categories of teams of three contestants – a driver and two pushers – building their own racers, had the plug pulled since there were no entries as of earlier this month.
“There was not one entry to anything,” Fahey told the Albertan on Sept. 4 during a phone interview.
The itinerary had also included plans for vendors, food trucks, a street dance, as well as live music behind the old hotel along a stretch of 1st Avenue SW.
Fahey said she had sought some input from the community and heard suggestions about including other elements such as a pie auction and chilli cook-off, but that there ultimately wasn’t enough time to properly prepare.
“So, better planning for next year,” she said, adding that she wants to get the ball rolling much earlier starting in January, which will further grant people the opportunity to provide more feedback.
The push-cart derby is one feature that Fahey expressed enthusiasm about including again next year, and she hopes giving people more time to prepare will ensure enough contestants step up to make it all possible.
“That’s one thing I’d like to have,” she said about the derby, which was envisioned as having age categories ranging from youth all the way up to 17 and over with trophies for race winners and prizes for best creative design as well as costume theme.
“But there wasn’t enough planning for the push-cart, I don’t think, because people have to build them,” she said. “So next year, definitely, that would be one thing that I would personally look after.”
Music will also be back on the docket for next year’s street festival, she said.
“We’ll just have to see what the feedback is from the community and if they want to participate and give some ideas what (else) they would like to have for little contests,” she said, inviting anyone who is so inclined to connect with her either by email at [email protected] or alternatively by calling 403-636-1024.
“The door is open for anybody,” she said. “Feel free to come on and give me some suggestions.”
While helping to facilitate community-building events is the name of her game, Fahey emphasized they have to be within reason and all inclusive.
“It has to have the community involved,” she said. “I’m not your private event planner.”
Although the street festival didn’t pan out this time, Fahey said there are plans in place for other upcoming events including a candy walk for Halloween on Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m. at the Sundre Community Centre’s sizeable conference board room.
“It’s a nice walk through space and then people can go in one way and come out the other,” she said.
Less of a haunted house and more of a family-friendly Halloween setup with ghoulish decorations, children will have a chance to grab all kinds of different candies from several buckets as they walk through, she said.
Just a few days later in early November, the community centre will be hosting what Fahey called a bridal and grad formal wear consignment fair.
That event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 2-6 p.m., she said, adding that anybody who has some no-longer used formal attire such as bridal wear or men’s suits including vintage clothes can bring their items to My Sister’s Closet at Suds and Sundries on Centre Street just north of the Highway 27-Main Avenue traffic lights.
Those will in turn all be featured at the fair, where local florists, caterers and venue organizations such as community halls throughout the area will also be invited to set up tables displaying their services, she said.
And while it was still too early to confirm specifics for the upcoming Sundown in Sundre when Fahey spoke with the Albertan, she said that planning process is also getting underway and to stay tuned for details.
