Chris Lowrey
MANSFIELD ET PONTEFRACT
June 29, 2019
Amyotte Park in Mansfield was full of activity as hundreds of people filtered through the park to take in the many activities on offer.
The main stage cranked out music for those milling about. The grand stands next to the ball diamond served as a refuge from the beating sun as a steady stream of softball games kept them entertained.
The ball tournament started on Friday night and went until Sunday afternoon.
The park was full of families in the afternoon as children got their faces painted, climbed on inflatable obstacle courses and kept cool on the splash pad.
There was even a mechanical bull on site for those willing to test their mettle.
The bar just inside the entrance was well-stocked with cold refreshments and it seemed like some of the spectators and participants in the tournament were keeping their hydration levels.
While most of the day was full of sunshine, dark clouds began to emerge over the horizon. Before long, strong wind gusts send dust clouds through the celebrations.
Before long, a large group of about 25 people banded together and held down the main audio tent so that it wasn’t sent flying through the air with the strong bursts of wind.
The event was organized by members of the Comité Canada en fête, made up of members from the local fire department.
More than 100 volunteers donated their time to make sure the event went off without a hitch, and organizer Sylvain Bégin couldn’t have been happier.
“Last year we got 900 people,” he said of the crowds the event attracts. “If the weather holds out, we’re hoping for 1,000 to 1,200.”
The event is staged every year as a fundraiser for the Mansfield et Pontefract fire department. This year Bégin said they hope to raise enough for new air packs.
In the last two years, the event has raised nearly $35,000 for the fire department.
