As August comes to an end, we'll be looking back at some of the events over the summer. We start with the Tolstoi & Area Harvest Festival!

Jo-Anne Drewniak gives a great breakdown of the entire event. "We estimate about 450 people attended festival activities throughout the day.   The day started off with a delicious pancake breakfast featuring fresh strawberries and watermelon and ended with a great social featuring Cold Hard Cash."

Jo-Anne continued. "Throughout the day, the community’s heritage buildings were open for tours and guided walking tours took place highlighting the history of the community.  The community which currently has approximately 40 residents was once home to more than 250 people with a number of businesses including grain elevator, dairy creamery and hardware store serving the surrounding community. A small number of classic cars showed up for the festival including a beautiful blue 1932 Ford."

A highlight for all involved was a terrific workshop. 

"A special event this year was a Perogy Making workshop.  A small number of participants gathered together at the Seniors Centre to learn how to make perogies under the expert instruction from Sophie Plazio.  She was assisted by several women who had decades of perogy making experience.  The participants truly enjoyed learning from the best."

There was so much more! 

 "The Tolstoi Community Park was the location of a 5 family team slo-pitch tournament which had the very young and the young at heart participating.  The winners of the tournament were the Kubi-Krushers.  There were lots of children’s activities including barrel rides, an awesome petting zoo, races and face painting.  The food at the park was fantastic and everyone was raving about the deep fried perogies!"

 

Of course, an event is not complete without some amazing entertainment. "At the community hall, festival-goers were treated to some live music by area bands the Fraser River Band and the Southern Comfort band." Jo-Anne said after the weekend. "People were tapping their toes and dancing the afternoon away. A delicious perogy and supper took place at the community hall.  A few days prior to the event, volunteers from near and far gathered together to make several hundred dozen homemade perogies.  They were delicious.  The day was capped off by a social featuring the Johnny Cash tribute band Cold Hard Cash.  The band which has a local connection to the community wowed social attendees.  Their renditions of Johnny’s songs were superb."

 

Say cheese! "The red benches were popular and everyone had to get their photo on one of the many located throughout the community."

 

Jo-Anne wanted to make sure to end with a special message to everyone. "The Tolstoi & Festival Committee was thankful for the support of everyone who came from near and far.   It was an opportunity to showcase the little town, renew acquaintances and make new friends."