Now set for its third year, Minto’s Canadian Redneck Games is ready to roll.
Belinda Wick-Graham and Dave Stonley providing an up to date assessment of the Canadian Redneck Games, starting with a recap of previous years.
Stonley said there is a new date and some new activities. The games are now slated for Aug. 8 to 10.
Sunday includes events such as mud volleyball at the new Clifford Rotary Park.
Saturday includes a new west coast lumberjack show.
Another new event is the Meulensteen Tire redneck vehicle show.
This year also includes vendors and live entertainment throughout the day.
Not only have the games grown in the past few years, but volunteer participation has skyrocketed as well.
Wick-Graham said in the first year, ten community groups took part; now over 22 are set to help run the Redneck Games.
Sponsorship has grown to the same extent.
She said that this year’s Redneck Games started with nearly $40,000 in sponsorship – roughly $23,000 of in-kind donations and the remainder in cash.
Wick-Graham and Stonley were a council for help – but the aid they were seeking is for participation in Saturday’s redneck parade and as celebrity judges at various events.
Wick-Graham also sought councillors willing to take the plunge into the mud volleyball tournament.
“Do you dare to get a little dirty, or to challenge other municipalities?” she asked.
Mayor David Anderson offered his congratulations to those putting the event together.
Wick-Graham said one request is to open camping at the various community centres. She has found the games are not drawing in visitors for a single day, but the whole week.
Stonley said this year brochures will be passed out to visitors, noting plans to open camping at all of Minto’s recreation centres and provide a shuttle service to the events.
“Get ’er done,” was councillor Rick Hembly’s response.
One person who won’t be at the games is Larry the Cable Guy. Organizers had pondered the idea of bringing him in for a show, but Stonley said once the costs were made clear, “It looks like a fair distance down the road.” Preliminary estimates indicated the cost was roughly $250,000 for a two-hour set.
A second option of a live-interview was also shelved because the entertainer is on holidays until after Labour Day.
Stonley added that some organizers also felt such an attraction could be potentially detrimental because it would be difficult to follow it.
One option still being considered would be bringing in a big screen presentation of a blue collar comedy routine.
For more information visit the event website at http://www.canadianredneckgames.ca/.
