This past weekend proved to be one of the more unusual Goose Festival weekends in the history of Kindersley as cooler temperatures, unexpected snows and unlucky goose hunters cut a few of the festivities short.
Kindersley, however, showed good pluck (no pun intended) and rallied around the events that were still able to continue on.
Thursday evening kicked off the annual event, chummily known as “Goose Fest” by the locals, with the iconic potato peeling and pie-eating contests. In other years, the goose plucking event would have also drawn a crowd, however, the hunters had no luck this year and so for only the second time in Kindersley history the Goose Festival happened without the geese.
In the potato peeling contest, Brian Kirkness carried the day with 4 lbs of potato being peeled under the clock. Nissa Long came in second with three pounds, 2017 reigning champion Lisa Padberg came in at an unexpected third and Austin Nault came in fourth in the final round. In the pie eating contest, teams of locals, and representatives from Kindersley Stallions Baseball Club, Kindersley Mainline Motors, Kindersley Kobras Football team, and Ironhorse Kindersley Klippers each won a prize and donated it to the non-profit organization of their choice.
Friday was even cooler as winds whipped the temperatures down to minus 8 degrees. Despite the weather, committed fans made it out to the heavy horse pulls down by the old Peavey Mart parking lot. 2017 champion Brian Fankhanel again carried the day on Friday as his team of Belgiums, Duke and Prince, pulled 5,650 lbs on the flat bottomed “boat.” This was much less than the 8,000 lbs pulled by the team last year, doubtlessly this variance was caused by the rainy, slippery conditions. Fans also watched the Kindersley Kobras under the lights on the Rotary Field, and the Kindersley Ironhorse Klippers versus Melfort Mustangs at the WCEC.
Just before the biggest event of weekend was about to happen, Kindersley residents woke up to a winter wonderland. On the first day of fall, nearly 4 inches of wet snow blanketed the streets and smothered cropland in Kindersley and the surrounding areas. At first, officials attempted to keep the parade going, “we live in Saskatchewan after all” read a Facebook post. However, safety ruled the day, so the parade and show and shines on Main Street were closed.
Folks drank hot chocolate, watched a Kindersley Screen Arts featuring “Finding your Feet,” and prepared for the former NHL and Klippers alumni game Saturday evening. Ex-professional hockey players, junior players and residents from the area who had signed up for the game formed two teams for the event. The game lasted 60 minutes at the West Central Events Centre with Team Green taking it 10-9. The legendary Goose Festival dance followed the game.
As always, the Goose Festival marked the coming of fall to the Kindersley area, although this time folks got a two-for-one deal as a little snip of winter completed the weekend.
Note: The Goose Festival Parade has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 29th.
Images Source: Mallorie Rast/Kindersley Social
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