The Lac La Ronge Winter Festival will begin in late February. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

community events

Lac La Ronge Winter Festival includes $50,000 in total prize money

Jan 24, 2023 | 4:55 PM

Approximately $50,000 is expected to be awarded in total prizes at the upcoming Lac La Ronge Winter Festival.

That’s according to Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre director of sports and recreation Kevin Roberts. He explained while many events are repeats from previous years, there has been some changes for the 2023 festival that runs from Feb. 24 to March 5.

“There is the Northern Talent Showcase,” he said. “We had talent shows before, but this is a new type of event similar to Voice of the North, which is held in Prince Albert. Back in October, we hosted tryout sessions and, from there, 10 musicians were selected to perform at the showcase.”

Those participating in the showcase, which will be held Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., are Andrea Ratt, Charlie Charles, Michelle Johnson, Tanner Cook and the musical trio The Aunties, all from La Ronge. Others taking part are Darcy Charles and Gordon McKenzie from Stanley Mission, Audrey Halkett of Hall Lake, Jason McDonald of Uranium City and Martin Roy of Beauval.

The Festival Queen Crowning, which hasn’t been held since 2019, is back. Those interested will need to sell tickets and the person who sells the most will become the Festival Queen and win $1,000. Roberts noted the winner will be required to participate at various functions, as well as make appearances.

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“[Another] thing we are going to do a little different is we’re going back to the Community Buckskin Contest,” he said.

“We had that on and off throughout the years, but people from the community have asked for a separate event for them. With the King and Queen Trapper, one of the events is buckskin. That’s part of the event, but there will be a Community Buckskin Contest for any community member.”

The full schedule of events. (Facebook/Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre)

The Tracker Tom Charles Memorial Junior King and Queen Trapper Competition is scheduled for Feb. 26, while the King and Queen Trapper Competition for adults will be held March 4 and 5. The Junior King and Queen Trapper will each win $300 and the adult King and Queen Trappers will each win $1,500.

Other events include various tournaments or competitions in broomball, cribbage jigging and square dancing, hockey, Texas Hold’em and volleyball.

The 14^th annual Moochacheech Memorial Jackfish Derby will take place Feb. 26 on Bigstone Lake.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno