The Gimli Family Fest has evolved from an experiment to a solidly established annual community event.
Despite cooler than expected weather, approximately 500 parents and their children turned out last Sunday afternoon for the sixth edition of Family Fest in Gimli Park.

This year marked the first time the four-hour festival was listed as an official event under the umbrella of the Gimli Tourist Board. “Attendance was typical of what we’ve experienced in recent years,” said principal organizer Fay Cassidy, a Gimli elementary school physical education teacher who imported the idea of a family-oriented festival when she moved here from British Columbia.

“And the goal remained the same – to attract families for an afternoon of fun activities, all of which are free.”
This spring’s outdoor program combined the tried-and-true with several new diversions. In the latter category was a skateboarding exhibition by young Winnipeg experts as well as a velcro wall where tiny folk donned sticky suits, took flying leaps and stuck to the wall either right side up or upside down.

Other elements of the program drawing long line-ups included a petting zoo, a reading tent, face painting and a bounce-a-roo enclosure, plus a wide variety of carnival games and arts and crafts. While these activities were taking place all over the grounds, there was entertainment inside the park pavilion by juggler Robin Chesnut, Adam T. Elvis, the Gimli Men’s Choir and local groups of square and line dancers. Besides Cassidy, members of the organizing committee were Elly Acton, Marie Arnbjornsson, Ginny Aho and Hill Bylholt. Also pitching in to help were nine young people from the new Katimavik group under the direction of their leader Michael Moore.

Assistance was received as well from three Gimli service clubs – the Kinsmen, Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus – plus Gimli Super A Foods.

“We’ll be back next year at the usual time – the first Sunday in June,” Cassidy said. “Anyone interested in volunteering can call me at 642-4696.

Roger Newman