With the Manitoba Sunflower Festival just four months away, the committee is hard at work planning the July 26-28 community celebration.
Recreation programmer Brittany Winkler says they’re following pretty much the same format as previous years.
“As always, we’ll have entertainment on Friday night at the main stage in the Altona Park, with the parade on Saturday morning. Another night of entertainment will take place Saturday night, with the crowning of the Manitoba Sunflower Queen. Legends Car Club will be back by popular demand. We have sent out applications for food truck vendors, and some have already responded. Those are always a big attraction at the festival.”
Culture Fest will also return.
“It was a huge hit last summer,” Winkler says. “It’s run through Regional Connections and really adds something special to the festival.”
Winkler says they’ve already booked their children’s entertainer and are currently working on main stage bands.
“Nothing has been confirmed yet, but we’re confident that our lineup will be great again this year.”
There are 11 contestants running for the Queen Quest competition.
Queen Quest coordinator Adina Schellenberg is thrilled by the response.
“It’s a very good group. I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve had a pool party so far, and now we’re gearing up for speech prep, and we’re bringing the mentorship program back.”
That program gives Grade 6 girls the opportunity to spend time with the entrants and royalty.
“The plan is to have three or four big group events instead of a lot of the one-on-one events we’ve done in the past, so we can include as many girls who are interested as possible. We’ll be approaching all four schools and inviting girls to participate.”
Schellenberg is hoping this will give the younger girls a glimpse of what Queen Quest is all about.
“I know some of the girls running this year were in the mentorship program years ago, so that’s exciting to see them come back. We’ve also got a lot of new people who have moved in, who haven’t had that opportunity, but still want to run in the Queen Quest, which is also cool.”
This year’s Queen Quest will once again feature a fashion show and speeches.
“We’re already working with judges and a choreographer. We want them to have a fun, positive experience, with all the events that we do. The months are going to go by really fast now.”
Contestants have already been helping at community events, such as the pancake breakfast and children’s games during this year’s Winter Carnival.
Meanwhile, members of last year’s festival royalty are currently enjoying their visit to Emerald, Australia, Altona’s sister city, where they are getting acquainted with that community’s Sunflower Queen and Princess.
The Manitoba Sunflower Festival has a new committee chair this year. Sandra Klassen has enthusiastically accepted the role, after having been involved with Queen Quest for nine years.
“It’s always been my passion and I love to volunteer and help with community events,” says Klassen, “so this is a good way to do that.”
She’s hoping to help the committee streamline a few things and take some pressure off the Recreation Department.
“I know they do a lot when it comes to the festival. They all have their own positions and jobs at that office, and it’s a lot to expect them to do so much. I just want to be that helping hand, and be that listening ear to smooth things out, if need be. It’s always great to offer another viewpoint.”
To raise funds for this summer’s festival, the committee is hosting a Quiz Night on April 27 at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre.
“It’s put on by Quiz Masters, a quiz group for Winnipeg. We’re trying to get the community to bring their knowledge and sense of fun to the table,” says Klassen. “There will be some healthy competition and a lot of laughs.”
The evening starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $160 per team of eight.
“It’s a night of food, fun and drinks,” Klassen says. “We’re hoping lots of people will come out.”
To register for Quiz Night, call 204-324-9005.
