For a short period of time early Saturday morning, it looked very much like 2013 would be the year of the “Drizzle Sizzle.”
A forecast predicting a rainy day came true, and early Saturday it rained for about an hour.
But the skies eventually cleared, and by the time of the chili cook off, which began at 11 a.m., it was sunny and warm at Memorial Park, where a good sized crowd had gathered to partake of a sampling of seven different chilis.
Congratulations are in order to the Sizzlefest crew of volunteers who made it all happen - and for pressing on in spite of dismal early morning weather, and a brief mid afternoon shower.
Judging by the numbers in the park throughout the afternoon, it appears the Similkameen’s fall festival experienced another successful year.
The organizational detail was evident this year as well, as events carried out on time and on schedule. The chili cook off was particularly well done, by handing out individual plastic bags containing everything one needed to sample and judge seven different chili offerings.
There was also a steady stream of children lining up for tattoos, hair paint and turns at the bouncy castle and bus slide.
In short, organizers ensured there was something for everyone.
“We were just out for a drive with our grandkids, when we saw this,” said one gentleman from Kamloops.
“What a great idea. It was a perfect stop for us.”
With so many distractions in society today, it can sometimes be difficult to get participation in shoulder season events like the Similkameen Sizzlefest. Sometimes the event loses its momentum and eventually disappears.
However, based on the exemplary work of the Sizzlefest volunteers, it appears that to be an unlikely possibility in Keremeos, anytime soon.