A party, a race and many, many dunks

Four people in clown makeup and wigs walk with balloons between their legs; a city councillor gets dunked 10 times within a few minutes, and alpacas hold their fire as a reporter gets close enough to take a few pics.

These are just a few of the sights visitors to Capreol Days would have seen Saturday, as residents crowded a closed-off downtown to have their faces painted, take a pony ride or listen to music.

Ward 7 Coun. Dav Kilgour said the weekend started off strong with a Friday night performance by impersonator Gavan Rousseau, who performed at Capreol Arena as Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison.

“There must have been 180 people, and everybody got up and was dancing and really seemed to enjoy it,” said Kilgour.

Festival goers were in a great mood, said Kilgour, who earlier had been a dunk-tank victim of Ward 5 Coun. Ron Dupuis, who dropped the Capreol councillor repeatedly, raising money for charity in the process.

Organizer Lynn Mazzuca said things couldn't have gone any better, and was already looking forward to next year.

“Things turned out amazing,” Mazzuca said, standing in the open field at Capreol's Millenium Centre. “Everywhere I went, people seemed to be having such a great time. Downtown has been busy since early morning.”

Back for the second year was the Capreol version of the Amazing Race. In all, 16 teams of four people completed eight physically and mentally demanding tasks, in pursuit of the $2,000 prize for first place.

“The racers are very exhausted, but had lots of fun,” she said. “Last year, it was 32 C for the Amazing Race, and everybody was dying. So (today) was perfect weather.”

Each team walked about 16 kilometres across the town to complete their tasks and reach each of the eight stations, where they found their next clue. They collected balloons along the way, and had to walk the last leg of the race, arm-in-arm, with two of balloons between their legs, without dropping or breaking them.

Meanwhile downtown, Gon Beninger showed off an albino corn snake, one of the exotic animals on display by Sudbury Party Animals.

“He's about two feet long now, but he'll grow to five feet,” Beninger explained, as a youngster let the animal slither up his arm.

Events continue Sunday with the Rock Crawl at Capreol Ski Hill starting at 11 a.m. The event has racers traverse an obstacle course in modified ATVs.

“Hopefully everyone will come out tomorrow, too,” Mazzuca said.

For more information, go to http://www.capreol.info/files/Aug_1_2013.pdf .