The cool weather added to the day
Although it was a colder and wetter year for the Honey Garlic and Maple Syrup Festival, it didn't stop people from coming out for this family fun day in Manitou, according to board chair Juanita Cobb.
"We had cooler, wet weather, which meant that all the farmers came to town. So, we had a great turnout of volunteers and participants. I would almost say record numbers. We had a few new things here this year. The Blue Bombers trailer was here to promote the Grey Cup this fall in Winnipeg. Our fire department had a new aerial, so it's always nice to see some new things."
Returning favourites included vendors selling honey, garlic, and maple syrup, as well as several others selling a variety of hand-crafted items, and food was there, along with entertainment on the main stage, the car show, mighty machines, children's activity tent, cooking and flower demos, and the farmer's market.
Let's hear it for the volunteers
Cobb gives recognition to community members of all ages for their contributions to the day.
"We had a full onslaught of volunteers all day long, which is awesome. Our community is so fabulous for stepping up and our youth really has to help do this because we're all getting a little old to haul all these tables," she said laughing.
But she meant it. "The kids go back to school Thursday, Friday of this week, and Friday I show up with my truck and trailer and they have to haul over 300 chairs for me."
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What's your favourite part of the festival?
The buffet supper sold 470 tickets, ending the festival at the fairgrounds with a great homemade meal served by volunteers.
Cobb said that while she enjoys talking to festivalgoers, she shared what her favourite part of the festival is.
"I would say the volunteers, you can't even imagine. We have a crew of seven people who coated our chicken for tonight. You don't know that. All you do is go through the line and say, 'Wow, that was great chicken,' right? You don't know behind the scenes what has to happen to make it happen. So, our volunteers all the way through are fabulous."
Entertainment makes for an enjoyable day
Although the day is busy for Cobb, making sure everything behind the scenes is taken care of, she is also grateful for the entertainment on the mainstage.
"I zoom around a lot during the day, and I don't very often get to hear more than just half a song, a clip. Our entertainers are very well received. Everybody appreciates it. I know it must be hard when it feels like everybody's talking and not really listening, but yet it makes for a very enjoyable day."
This festival attracts sponsors and draws people to come to Manitou for the day.
"The community, the area, is all very, very supportive of this. It is a real tourism draw for our area. Some festivals are just for your local people. This is our local people having to work because we've got company coming."
Cobb concluded, " We always say we're more than a small town, and this is one of those events that it shows that we are more than a small town."
