The Fernie Nordic Society held it’s 5th annual fundraising Great Pumpkin Hunt on Saturday at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre.
Nordic skier Susan Rohn said the event is a celebration of fall and the Nordic Society.
“For ten dollars you get to search for one pumpkin,” she said. “Families get to come out with their kids and go in the woods, and pumpkins are hidden in the woods. By donation they can get a hot dog and hot chocolate afterwards, and also the kids can get their picture taken in the woods on a little tractor, and that is also by donation. Tonight at The Arts Station, we also have a musical fundraiser.”
Sadie Rosgen enthusiastically attended the event with her child and friends.
“This is our fourth year at the Pumpkin Hunt,” she said. “It is such a beautiful event because it brings families together. We are out in the forest together, and now there’s three heats of pumpkin hunting, I believe. There is no room for error this year with pumpkins. This is a fantastic event that I love to support. I love the Nordic Society and Fernie because there are so many trails to go on…so much terrain.”
Rosgen said the Nordic Society is involved with grooming trails in the area.
“Among many other things,” she explained. “Keeping them in order for all us cross country skiers who love the sport. There are so many classic athletes, and so many skate athletes. We’ve got hundreds of kilometres of trails too. There’s a lot of volunteer action here, and a lot of cute costumes, too.”
Samantha Sedlowski, Event Coordinator and board member with the Fernie Nordic Society, said the event is intended to bring the community out to the Nordic Centre “in a time of year when people don’t think of the Nordic Centre as a facility.”
Sedlowski said the event has grown over the years, and attracts a lot of people.
“They come from all over the place,” she said. “It a reconnection time. I see friends here and it’s the prep for winter.”