Robert Fisher
Staff Reporter
BARRY’S BAY – The new winter festival, dubbed Flannel Fest, is beginning to come together following the second planning meeting Monday evening.
About a dozen local groups from Barry’s Bay, Combermere and Wilno met to blue sky ideas and put together a tentative schedule. The Barry’s Bay Recreation Committee, Business Improvement Area, Combermere Recreation Committee, Wilno Heritage Society, Wilno Rink, Lions Club, Royal Canadian Legion, Madawaska Valley Gardening Club, Opeongo Seniors, Barry’s Bay minor hockey, Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living, Stationkeepers MV and the library are among the groups working to put together an event- and fun-filled family-friendly celebration of winter around the Family Day long weekend in February.
Madawaska Valley Township also marks its 25th anniversary as an amalgamated municipality in 2026 and organizers are considering ways to bring that into the celebration.
The group will meet again in early October and November to continue planning. They may take December off due to the busy Christmas season then complete the planning in early January. The Family Day weekend in 2026 is Feb. 14-16.
Gail Gavan is tentatively booked for Feb. 14 upstairs at the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre. The organizing committee discussed other indoor and outdoor events including the possibility of a baked bean cookoff, free public skating on a couple days, a hockey tournament, bonfire marshmallow roast, a fibre art/quilting/spinning exhibit/demonstration, a vintage snowmobile show and shine, a vintage logging vehicle display and a pancake breakfast are among the ideas being considered.
Anyone wanting to volunteer or who wants more information about contributing and event can contact Hannah Gutoskie on recreation@madawaskavalley.ca.
robert@thevalleygazette.ca
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