Town of Carrick can “bearly” contain the excitement for upcoming weekend celebration

The fun and activity this weekend during the 32nd annual Carrick Days festival should be more than enough action to keep the town’s famous bears away and attract families, friends and festival goers to all the entertainment in town.

A smaller community southeast of Woodridge with less than a dozen year-round residents, Carrick Days draws from the many cottage owners and families that summer in the area and gives the celebration that attracts hundreds the feel of a large backyard barbecue.

With the gates to the Spurgrave Historical School Park opening at 11 a.m., the parade will kick off the weekend’s celebrations by heading straight along Main Street.

A free children’s playground will keep those with younger children active along with the petting zoo and bouncing tent, while a dunk tank and 50/50 draw in addition to a “bring your own hammer” spike-driving contest will keep older attendees in the spirit of the celebration.

One of the most looked forward to events of the day is the vaunted horseshoe tournament which features some of Manitoba’s best backyard pitchers. The clang of the shoe against the stake is a telltale sign of a ringer and is a frequent sound that attracts cheers from the crowd of spectators. The winner of the competition has their name immortalized on the impressive Carrick Cup.

Musical entertainment will feature Sonny Bandura, who continues to write original music after his first album, Long Ride, debuted in 2008, and he plays to wide audiences all over Manitoba. Glen Green and the Hooligans will take over for the evening’s social and get-together.

The fireworks display begins at 10 p.m.

Carrick Days also features the opportunity to have someone locked up in Carrick Jail for the price of a loonie. The prisoner must come up with bail to escape. Proceeds go to the Carrick Community Club and to help bring about next year’s celebrations.