Family festival offers fun for free

When Steve Gudrie became pastor at the Valley Pentecostal Church about five years ago, he said he wanted to make the church a vibrant part of the community.

Events like the Family Festival are helping make that happen.

The third annual event, set to take place Sept. 11, is entirely free for families, and everyone who walks through the gates will be greeted with a warm welcome.

Gudrie said all guests will receive a complimentary hot dog, pop, candy floss, pop corn and snow cone, and they will also be given game tokens.

“People want to be able to come to a safe environment and have a lot of fun with their families but not have any cost factor,” Gudrie said. “We know coming out of the strike, and different things that are going on in the economy, that for a lot of people, it’s really tough.”

There will also be inflatables for kids to play on, and door prizes for kids and grown-ups.

For the past two years, the number of visitors at the festival has doubled. Last year, about 1,300 people stopped by, even though the church family is made up of only about 150 people.

“We don’t take this day to preach at people — that’s Sunday,” Gudrie said. “It’s really just to show God’s love.”

Part of the festival includes a free concert by Credible Witness, a band that appeared on Much Music’s disBAND two years ago. Walter Senko, the band’s vocalist, said guests can look forward to an interactive show from him and the band’s guitar player Jeremy Bundy.

Their sound, which was been described as “Blind Melon meets Supertramp,” has developed since the band appeared on disBAND. “It’s really cool, because you see a lot of these people who’ve done a lot in the past, kind of jumping on board.”

Gudrie’s son Curtis, who is the assistant pastor at the Valley Pentecostal Church, “grew up” with Senko. The two had met during youth group activities, and even after moving apart, kept an eye on what the other was up to.

Senko said he believes in God at a personal level, making him a good fit for the Family Festival at the church. “My heart is definitely out for that, and I do believe in Jesus and what He’s done.”

The Family Festival at the Valley Pentecostal Church, located at 231 Martha St. in Hanmer runs from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 11. For more information, contact the church at 705-969-4221.

For more information about Credible Witness, visit www.myspace.com/crediblewitness.