Sea Fair Society is getting set to host the 51st annual Sea Fair festival in Powell River and will be filling Willingdon Beach with vendors, music and events over the July 25 weekend.
“There are over 20 organizers behind the scenes,” said Jenny Garden, society president. “It’s a great team and everyone has worked really hard to pull it all together.”
Among the premier events this Sea Fair are a beach volleyball tournament, an outrigger canoe race, a children’s activity area, and a new midway. Sea Fair will also include some continuing favourites like the fishing derby, talent contest, parade, fly-in and car show at Powell River airport.
“Now is the time when we reach out to the community to get involved,” Garden added. “Whether it is joining an event or volunteering, there are many different ways to participate.”
Sea Fair is actively looking for teams for the outrigger canoe race and volleyball tournament, floats and vintage cars for the parade, fishing derby and talent contest entrants and over 360 volunteers to help keep the event running smoothly all weekend. “We have already received some volunteer support from businesses like the First Credit Union in the kids’ area and Save-On-Foods for the pancake breakfast,” explained Garden, “but with almost 1,000 volunteer hours to fill, we still need a lot of people who are willing to lend a hand.”
There is a wide range of positions available such as grounds supervision, glow rope sellers, raffle ticket sellers, bartenders and help with set-up and tear down. “Everything is listed on the website,” said volunteer coordinator Loretta Askgaard. “You only need to sign up for three hours and most of the positions are fairly easy.”
To show its appreciation, Sea Fair Society will be inviting all registered volunteers to take part in a volunteer orientation and social at Marine Inn Lounge at 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 17. “Everyone will get a chance to mingle and ask any questions,” added Askgaard. “Sea Fair is going to be a great way to meet people and have some fun.”
The society’s mission is to host an annual celebration by the sea with the purpose of strengthening bonds within the community, creating economic opportunity and raising general awareness that Powell River is a wonderful place to work, live and play. Sea Fair is the longest running festival in Powell River and includes three fun-filled days of events, entertainment and community spirit. It attracts hundreds of tourists every year, promotes local spending and provides a platform for many community groups to fundraise and increase their profile.
“It truly is a community-driven event,” said Eddie Romagnoli, society vice-president. “It’s amazing that it has been running for over 50 years and really shows how important it is for the town.”
All the information and sign-up forms can be found at online and questions can be directed to Jenny Garden at 604.414.8811 or [email protected].
