Despite a bit of iffy weather to start off the festival, this year’s 45th Annual Billy Barker Days is being hailed as a success.
“I think it went wonderfully,” said Selena Weiers, president of the Billy Barker Days Society. “We had a little weather at the start that wasn’t so great — it was a little dampened down for seniors’ day, but it got beautiful and sunny by Friday evening, and the weather opened up for a beautiful parade day and day in the park.
Weiers says it is hard to tell what the attendance is like because it is a free festival, and they don’t really have a way of monitoring who comes in, but she feels the festival was well-attended this year.
“I know our kids’ day was well-attended, as well as the seniors’ day — I know we had over 200 seniors; they really enjoyed the day,” she said. “We had close to 80 entries in our parade, we had one 130 kids today for Teddy Bear Clinic. I think, all in all, I’ve heard some great things about the laser show Friday and Saturday.”
About 100 people volunteered throughout the four-day festival.
The Billy Barker Days Society is made up of 17 active members, as well as a handful of members who are still involved but don’t necessarily go to all the meetings.
“I think there are only four or five of us out of those 17 who aren’t lifetime members, which means more than 10 years,” noted Weiers.
Weiers says about 100 people volunteered throughout the four-day festival.
Many people come back to Billy Barker Days year after year after year and bring their families and friends, and people travel from near and far to take in the festival.
“I think it’s families,” Weiers said when asked why she thinks Billy Barker Days is so special to people. “I think if you’ve ever lived here or know somebody who lives here, they draw people in. I know people who actually build their vacations around family here because it gives something for everybody. There’s something for everybody to do, whether it’s Crash to Pass or the racetrack being your thing or the rodeo or just being in the park for some free entertainment. There are so many things this weekend that bring people from far and wide.”
Weiers thanks everyone for a fantastic weekend.
“The community spirit is just huge in our town,” she said. “All our businesses that contribute, we have over 150 sponsors, and without any of that, we would be nothing, so a huge thank you to all of them.”
There were many big winners throughout the weekend, and in the ever-popular Billy Button Draw, Gerald Langlois won the first prize of a $1,000 gold nugget. Michael McKinnon won a 14K gold pendant for second prize, while Tamara Chzmazia won a $300 gold nugget, Catherine Forbes won a $200 gold nugget, and Jim Crossen won a $100 gold nugget.
From a policing perspective, Quesnel RCMP Detachment Commander Staff Sgt. Andrew Burton says Billy Barker Days was a success.
Burton says calls for service and the prisoner count were down from previous years, and between Thursday afternoon and Sunday evening, Quesnel RCMP responded to 125 calls.
“Most of them were minor in nature,” he noted in an email.
The 125 calls is down from 173 in 2018 and 149 in 2016 (there was no festival in 2017 due to the wildfires).
Burton says police were proactive in their enforcement approach again this year, utilizing additional police officers from Prince George and Williams Lake and conducting curfew checks, several road checks and licenced premise checks of local liquor establishments, including Saturday night’s barn dance.
“While the RCMP were steady, and several arrests were made over the weekend for minor offences, the majority of people were enjoying themselves and were responsible, resulting in very few concerns for police,” said Burton.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Billy Barker Days opens in Quesnel!
Lindsay ChungEditor
Send Lindsay an emailLike the Quesnel Cariboo Observer on Facebook
