Sun shines on Shelbrrr Fest

February 18, 2015 · 0 Comments

Monday, February 16th brought a break in the dangerously cold temperatures accompanied by blue skies and sunshine to Family Day and the first ever “Shelbrrr Fest” winter carnival. The free event organized by the Kin Clubs of Shelburne and led by Cherie and Dan Sample and Nikki Williams opened with great success, as young and old snow lovers and their families gathered at Fiddle Park in Shelburne from 11am-4pm for frosty fun and events.
“We wanted a way for not only families to get together,” Nikki Williams said in planning the event, “but also to bring the community together.” The organizers accomplished their goal, bringing in over 400 happy Shelburne and area residents to join in the activities and raising approximately $800 in donations at the gate.
Centennial Hylands Public School was the winner of the Castle Building Contest sponsored by Crewson Insurance, Timmerman Haskal & Mills LLP, Dufferin Mutual Insurance and Stutz Brown & Self. The companies donated $800 towards the presentation of a Board approved computer for the winning school. Glenbrook, Hyland Heights, Centennial Hylands and Primrose schools all participated in the contest, but it was Centennial Hyland’s design that won over Shelburne Town Councillors who judged the competition. Nikki Williams said one of her favourite moments of the Festival was when students of Centennial Hylands showed great community spirit as they realized the small group of students at Hyland Heights needed help to finish their castle and went over to aid their opposing school.
The cold weather kept everyone hungry and the Kinette kitchen busy serving up hot dogs, chilli, coffee and hot chocolate to warm chilly toes. Stump Busters of Shelburne also took the chill off patrons with a warming bonfire while the Shelburne Fire Department, Police and Ambulance Services showed off their vehicles and answered questions from the kids. Greg and Heather Holmes of Holmes Appliances and Music Store provided the sound system and music for the event. Local young actors from LP Stage Productions added to the musical entertainment delighting the audience on the snow packed hills by singing numbers from their upcoming spring shows at Grace Tipling Hall: The Hobbit and the popular Broadway musical Into the Woods.
Other winter events included a low-grade slope tube ride hosted by the Shelburne Beavers, Cubs and Scouts; a snow mountain climbing hill; toboggan pull races and Tug of War. The Good Guys sled dogs were extremely popular and said they couldn’t believe how many people were out for the first time event. The dogs were as much fun to pet as ride and the $2.00 sled rides raised $450 for the Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank to purchase pet food for clients in need of assistance with their pets.
The Clydesdale sleigh team was unable to attend due to the impending and happy arrival of a new foal. Organizers say they would like the tube hill to be a little bigger, and see more involvement from the schools for the castle contest, but that everything else was great, and they are looking forward to more activities to be added next year. Many positive comments could be heard throughout the day and everyone hopes it returns. The organizers extend their thanks to the public for supporting the event, to Steve Arnold of Shelburne Public Works for last minute modifications, and to all the sponsors of Shelbrrr Fest:
Timmerman, Haskell and Mills LLP
Crewson Insurance
Dufferin Mutual Insurance
The Town of Shelburne
Stutz Brown & Self
Kin Clubs
Holmes Appliances and Music
Shelburne Family Dental
Quail Construction
Stump Busters
Larry Braiden
Jr Schooners
Mad River Photography
LP Stage Productions
Shelburne Beavers & Cubs
Shelburne Fire Department
Shelburne Police
Shelburne Ambulance
LC’s Creations
Good Guys Carting Dogs
Foodland
Dufferin Drift Busters

By Marni Walsh

Photo by Marni Walsh
Timmerman Haskal & Mills LLP, Crewson Insurance,Stutz Brown & Self, as well and Dufferin Mutual Insurance (not seen here,) presented Centennial Hylands Public School with a prize of $800 for a new school computer as the winners of the Castle Building Contest at the first ever Shelbrrr Fest winter carnival February 16th at Fiddle Park.

Photo by Wendy Gabrek
As cold as it sounds, Shelbrrr… – The Town of Shelburne advertised for the ‘Shelbrrr Festival’, which took place on Monday, February 16th (Family Day) on the town hall marquee last week. The first time event was a tremendous success, despite the frigid temperatures.