Charlie Redstar Long Table Dinner draws 300, raises funds for Ryall Park revitalization
The threat of thunderstorms forced organizers to move the “Out of This World” Charlie Redstar-themed Long Table Dinner indoors, but the change in venue didn’t dampen spirits at the sold-out fundraiser Friday night.
Originally planned for the street beside Ryall Park — with tables stretching across the bridge and over the Boyne River — the event was relocated to the Carman Community Hall. Volunteers transformed the space into a celestial scene, complete with green aliens, a 10-foot-wide UFO and strings of mini lights.
About 300 guests arrived around 5:30 p.m., decorating their tables in keeping with the “Out of This World” theme. Prizes went to Jessica Knaggs’s group for “most creative” and Terri Dyck’s group for “most out of this world.”
The evening’s highlight was a farm-to-table dinner by chef Tracy Bernard, featuring locally sourced dishes such as vegetable salad, spatchcock chicken, bison meatballs, new potatoes, corn on the cob, beets, artisan bread and berry pies with ice cream.
Entertainment included original Charlie Redstar-inspired skits by Back on Cue and live music from the Dirt Road Pilots, who kept the dance floor busy. The Carman Collegiate Class of 1985 also marked its 40th reunion at the dinner, reconnecting with former teachers and classmates.
The 50/50 draw totalling $600 went to Cliff Holliston. Proceeds from the evening will support Ryall Park revitalization, a joint project by Carman Dufferin Communities in Bloom and the Boyne River Keepers. Plans include ground leveling, a wheelchair-accessible pathway and other accessibility improvements. The groups recently installed a kayak and canoe launch in the park.
