Douro Doings this weekend
20 quilts being raffled off on Labour Day; frog-jumping contest for kids
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016
DOURO -- If organizers didn’t limit the number of quilts raffled off at Douro Doings, they’d be there all night.
“That’s one of the reasons we’ve cut it off at 20 quilts,” said Barbara Meade, member of the Women’s Catholic League of St. Joseph’s Parish Hall.
The league organizes the Douro Doings each year for Labour Day.
The quilt raffle is one of the big draws, which could be due to the event’s rural ties, Meade said.
“Quilting is still very alive here, and we still hand quilt. We do not have any machine quilted quilts – so far,” she said with a laugh.
There are 20 quilts this year, most made at the church by league members over several months.
Though in recent years, they’ve had a new joiner to the group, who doesn’t fit the Women’s Catholic League bill.
A gentleman started quilting a few times a month with the women, donating his quilt to the raffle.
“We don’t discriminate. We’ll take any men that want to come – he’s the only one we’ve convinced,” she said.
The “Wheel of Fortune” raffle for quilts and secondary prizes starts at the hall at 6 p.m.
Before that, there’s a day full of activities to do.
The fastball and slo-pitch tournament kicks off at Douro Park on Saturday and runs throughout the weekend.
Then on Monday, it’s a full day affair with field events starting at the park at 9 a.m.
There’s a horseshoe tournament, kids’ games, tug-of-wars, a 10 kilometre run, an antique car show and a frog-jumping contest.
That’s right, a frog-jumping contest. Kids catch a frog from the river and then whoever’s frog jumps the furthest is the winner.
Live music and the roast beef dinner get underway at 3 p.m. at the Parish Hall. It’s served until 6 p.m., and then the raffle starts. THE EXAMINER
Organizers generally serve between 700 to 800 people for dinner.
Proceeds from the event support the parish, and it’s the church’s only fundraiser all year.
The Douro Doings started in 1929, taking a hiatus during the Second World War.
It draws in crowds from all over and brings those with Douro roots back to their stomping grounds.
“Everybody comes back. It’s a homecoming for the weekend,” said Meade.
She’s volunteered with Douro Doings since 1969, and said not much has changed at the event over the years. Why keep things the same? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix Meade said, laughing.
NOTE: Tickets to the dinner at $13 in advance or $14 at the door. They can be purchased from Darlene Sullivan at 705-6526009. it,”