Railroad Daze still going full steam ahead 25 years later

By Ken Johnston
Editor

It has been 25 years since Rainy River first held its first Railroad Daze and the event keeps steaming along!
Plans for this year’s celebration of the communities railroad heritage begin this Friday morning at the Rainy River Public Library when they hold their annual “Best Book Sale Ever!” at 10 a.m. That will coincide with the Library’s Kid’s Summer Reading Club activities at 11 a.m.
Always a great event, the traditional Seniors Picnic on the lawn at the old Railway Station will begin at 1 p.m. and will again feature the music of Hwy. 621.
New to Railroad Daze’s Friday line-up is a “So you think you can dance” video game competition. Participants will compete using an Xbox Kinnect system and top scorers will have a chance to win some great prizes including Ipod Shuffles for first place. There are two age categories, 12 & under and 13 and over. It will be taking place at the Rec. Centre at 5:30 p.m.
The Rainy River Locum House fund-raising committee will be holding a pulled pork sandwich fund-raiser at the old train station (Rainy River Activity Depot).
Sports enthusiasts will be glad to know that the annual Rainy River Recreation Board Slo-pitch tournament will begin at the ball diamonds Friday evening with a full canteen and beer gardens. Rec. Director Kam Kuzyk told the Record last week he had seven teams and hoped to secure at least an eighth by Wednesday at Noon this week. Call 852-4446 to enter one.
At 8 p.m. another new event will take place at the Rec. Centre. “We are having Family Movie Night, featuring Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” said Kuzyk.
On Saturday baseball and the book sale resume early in the day. Another new event will begin at 10 a.m. It is the first annual Rainy River Craft Show at the old train station.
The annual Rainy River Fun Fly (radio controlled planes) will return again this year. It is held just north of Rainy River on Byrnes Road.
Just before the annual Railroad Daze parade at 11 a.m., the OPP will conduct a bike rodeo at the school parking lot at 10 a.m. The parade will start at 11 a.m. and travel up Main St. from Hannam Park towards Hwy. 11. To enter a float call Kuzyk at 852-4446. There will be prizes for the best entries.
At 11:30 a.m. a special Railroad Daze Farmers’ Market will open just next to the 4008 Railway Museum.
At 1 p.m. a break in the slo-pitch action will see the Rainy River Royals take on the Pinewood Bears in a grudge match fastball game.
Over at the Beststart Hub parking lot at 1 p.m. there will be Ooey Gooey Kids Games.
At 4:30 p.m. the ever popular Legion Steak Fry will be held at the Legion.
At 8 p.m. there will be a home run derby at the ball diamonds.
9 p.m. the Railroad Daze Dance featuring DJ Amy Ashworth will be held upstairs at the Rec. Centre.
Sunday slo-pitch resumes at 9 a.m. with the championship game slated for 2 p.m.
The craftshow also resumes Sunday morning.
At 10:30 a.m. there is an interdenominational church service in Hannam Park.
At 12:30 p.m. registration for the 10th annual Great Beaver Boat Races at Hannam Park begins. The hilarious and highly competitive races begin at 3:30 p.m. and wrap up Railroad Daze for another year!