Summer festivals across our corner of the southeast returned in style this year, after having been cancelled or offering only limited programming during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Niverville’s successful Olde Tyme Country Fair in June, crowds also came back to Ste. Agathe and St. Pierre-Jolys to enjoy the full spectrum of fun, food, and community-minded festivities. In each case, they were rewarded with outstanding weather.
Cheyenne Summer Fest
The Cheyenne Summer Festival was held in Ste. Agathe on July 14–15, offering entertainment for the whole family with music, fireworks, a ball tournament, a horseshoe tournament, activities for kids, Fris-Nok, and more.
The event is also known for its annual pancake breakfast and parade, neither of which disappointed.
Organizers put in an incredible amount of work before the event in order to deliver the thirty-fourth Cheyenne Festival. The weekend brought together the entire community for a celebration filled with joy, music, sports, and delicious food.
Eric Gagnon chairs the organizing committee and gave an enthusiastic review of the event. He says that the parade down Pembina Trails was filled with colourful floats, enthusiastic participants, and smiling faces lining the streets. It showcased a spirit of togetherness and community pride.
Music enthusiasts were treated to an unforgettable performance by the talented band 5-GPT. Their rock tunes and energetic beats had everyone dancing and singing along.
“The night sky was illuminated with a mesmerizing display of fireworks, painting vibrant colours that left the audience in awe,” says Gagnon. “A perfect ending to an already spectacular day!”
Saturday featured the annual pancake breakfast with musical entertainment provided by the melodies of Simon Reimer. Sports lovers had a blast participating in a series of tournaments, featuring baseball, horseshoe, and Fris-Nok. Gagnon says the friendly competition brought out the best in everyone and fostered a sense of camaraderie.
“The highly anticipated Cheyenne Supper, catered by Chicken Delight, was a… delight!” he adds. “And the entertainment from Quantum Dance Studio was nothing short of mesmerizing. The perfect combination of food and performance left everyone with cherished memories. To top it all off, the Circus Social, featuring DJ Jay Walker, was a night of pure joy and dancing under the stars. It was the perfect way to end the festival, leaving everyone with a spring in their step.”
Even though the festival had been able to host some activities in 2022, this year’s event built upon those efforts and brought the event back put to its pre-COVID level.
“It had been two years since we had put on a proper festival, and we had many new folks join the committee,” he says. “Thankfully, with these new members came fresh ideas. We built on that momentum… and are looking extremely forward to the Cheyenne Summer Festival’s thirty-fifth anniversary next year!”
Gagnon credits the hard-working organizers, as well as the many committed volunteers, for the success of the event.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank our amazing organizing committee,” he says. “Our committee is composed of a good mix of new faces and veterans, and their volunteerism is deeply appreciated by the community of Ste. Agathe.”
The Cheyenne Summer Fest would also not be possible without dedicated sponsors, which include the federal and provincial government, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, the RM of Ritchot, and many other local partners.
Frog Follies
The annual Frog Follies took place in St. Pierre-Jolys on August 10–13. The event has been running since 1970 when the festival was first created to welcome Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles on their visit to Manitoba. The royals spent 20 minutes in town to commemorate the event—and the rest is history.
“Minus the COVID years, we haven’t missed a beat,” says Frog Follies president Roxane Gagné.
Despite having missed a few years, organizers rallied. This year’s festival featured the Flame Syndicate Show, the Roseau River Dance Troupe, creative genius and children’s entertainer Al Simmons, Diamond Disc Dogs, some French traditional bands (such as Cht’koot), and many outstanding musical guests.
“Notable this year was the recollaboration with the St. Pierre-Jolys Agricultural Society. We joined forces after several years apart,” says Gagné. “[It was a] huge success with more entries this year, the Best in Show going to local artist Robert Lahaie for a gorgeous wood sculpture. We also formed a new collaboration with the Stand Market and Events from Kleefeld.”
The weather was great and challenges minimal.
“Except for wasp management, and drawing more ‘young adults’ to the festival,” she adds. “We have a plan for next year to have a more appealing night for that age group.”
The frog-jumping competition is always a hit with festivalgoers, young and old. A representative from Fort Whyte Alive was onsite to emcee the contest and provide lots of information about the athletic amphibians.
The winner of this year’s competition was six-year-old Colten Poirier, who also happened to be the volunteer responsible for catching, caring for, and releasing the frogs back to their natural habitat afterwards.
Admission for the agricultural fair and all entertainment on the exhibition grounds was free and the board wishes to thank all of their amazing sponsors for their commitment to making the event a success. Board members included Roxane Gagné, Josée Curé, Rolly Gagné, Janessa Alumba, Tammy Gigolyk, Brigitte Kelly, and Lukas Hadley.
“We have several sponsors listed on our Facebook page and most are from the St. Pierre Chamber of Commerce. Too many to list!”
Gagné also gave a special mention to Ralph Collette from St. Pierre En Boom for being “a super volunteer.”
