Portage la Prairie’s Fun With Family Day Festival is back on the calendar for Saturday, August 30, and organizers say they’re going full steam ahead with plans for another large-scale celebration, but they’ll need a boost from the community to make it happen.
The event is run by Concerts on Request, a nonprofit that draws thousands each year to Our Farm Greenhouses just south of Portage.
President of the board Bhryden Doherty says last year’s festival brought out over 7,500 people.
“It has bouncy castles, live entertainment, promoting local talent, food trucks, car show, battle of bands, yard games, fireworks, tractor rides; kind of the whole nine yards that you would expect at a little community fair sort of thing,” notes Doherty.
He says the budget to keep it free is no small task.
The group is aiming to raise at least $75,000 to cover operating costs, with hopes that both volunteers and local businesses will step up. The cost to run the festival last year was about $300,000.
One of Portage’s last free summer festivals
With the Portage Potato Festival cancelled, the Fun With Family Day Festival is now one of the last free summer festivals in the area. Doherty says it’s made a major impact not just on families but also on the local economy.
“People flew in from Toronto and drove in from Alberta for the festival,” adds Doherty. “It became an iconic festival within Portage la Prairie.”
He says it's grown far beyond its original intent.
Volunteers and equipment still needed
Organizers say they’re looking to fill around 50 volunteer positions for the weekend. They’re also short on equipment after losing a major sponsor, and are seeking tractors, Gators, and side-by-sides to help move people and gear.
“If the community has ideas for things they would like to see at the festival and to add to it with a lower cost budget, we'll take those into consideration too,” says Doherty. “Maybe there's businesses that want to add activities to it in trade for their sponsorship because they don't have the funding, but maybe they'll have the ability to do a trade in.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering can reach out by email at funwithfamilydayfestival@gmail.com or visit concertsonrequest.ca.
Doherty also encourages people to call him directly at 204-871-4703.
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