Burin Come Home Year committee co-chairs Ethel Paul (left) and Coun. Howard Lundrigan are excited for the upcoming festivities to get underway. Coordinator Georgina Peach has also been kept busy as the event approaches.
Committee co-chairs Ethel Paul and Howard Lundrigan said Wednesday crunch time has arrived.
The jam-packed schedule of events runs from Saturday, July 30, though Sunday, Aug. 7.
“The big thing is the camaraderie of the residents and people being able to get together and mingle – for people who haven’t seen one another for years to share things that have happened and relive memories of when they were growing up here in Burin,” Lundrigan said about the payoff of hosting Come Home Year events every so often.
Lundrigan, a councillor with the town, and Paul also served as co-chairs for Burin’s successful Come Home Year in 2009. The duo is hoping for another big turnout this time around. According to the group’s Facebook page, interest is once again high, Paul said.
Before planning began, Paul said some feelers were put out about hosting another Come Home Year. The response was positive, she said.
“Basically, people started feeling, well, it was time to do another Come Home Year,” Lundrigan said. “The last one seemed to go over very well and we had a lot of participation – a fair number of people came home.”
The neighbouring community of Fox Cove-Mortier will also a part of this year’s festivities. The town approached the committee about joining in shortly after planning began, Lundrigan said.
Paul said the schedule features something for everyone. Prices have been kept to a minimum with no charge for some of the events.
Like many in the town, Lundrigan and Paul are excited to see some familiar faces from the past.
“I find, as was the case the last Come Home Year, there’s a lot of people who show up who you didn’t realize were coming,” Lundrigan said.
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Five highlights from the schedule:
* Saturday, July 30, 2:30 p.m. – Opening ceremonies parade starting at the College of the North Atlantic parking lot.
* Monday, Aug. 1, 1 p.m. – Dory races featuring entertainment and barbecue at Duricle Pond, Fox Cove.* Tuesday, Aug. 2, first run 10 a.m. – Explore Great Burin aboard the Lady Ella. Leaving from Ship Cove floating dock.
* Friday, Aug. 5, 2 p.m. – Seniors afternoon tea at the Masonic Hall (featuring “Burin Court Docket” by David Brown followed by Austin and Nora).
* Friday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m. – Concert at Central Park featuring The Coastals and Red Line.
** Check out the Burin Come Home Year 2016 group on Facebook for full event schedule.
