Tavistock's busy Saturday featured crokinole tournament, firefighters’ barbecue and Optimist Club fundraiser

Members of the Tavistock Fire Department who helped prepare and serve meals at Saturday's annual chicken barbecue included, from left, Ryan Ropp, Emily Van Uden, Steffan Yantzi, Jaclyn Lange, Mark Wettlaufer, Josh Jantzi, Connor Occleston, Sean Lonergan, Luke Bender, Zach Lorentz, Max Kalbfleisch, Matt Lamers, Alyssa Habel, Craig Blum, Jacob Hutchinson and Paul Brenneman. Missing from the photo are Nick Hendry, Gavin Klatecki, Matthew Jordan, Marc Dionne, Chris Roth and Scott Zehr. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Tavistock and area residents had plenty to choose from on Saturday as several major community events drew large crowds throughout the day.

From the World Crokinole Championship at the arena to the Tavistock Fire Department's annual chicken barbecue and the Tavistock Optimist Club's fundraising concert in the park, the community was buzzing with activity from morning until late at night

If anyone described it as a quiet weekend, they were probably out of town.

While Diane Danen has a full report on the world-class crokinole tournament, I was able to attend New Hamburg's Forest Glen Public School 50th reunion celebration and watch the Tavistock U20 Athletics capture a bronze medal at a tournament in New Dundee before making it back in time for the firefighters' popular drive-through chicken dinner.

Fire Capt. Paul Brenneman said members of the Tavistock Fire Department were busy serving hundreds of residents, many of whom went home with a meal featuring barbecue chicken and Quehl's Restaurant's award-winning apple pie.

Many diners then made their way next door to Optimist Park, where local favourite Highway 21 kept the crowd entertained well into the evening.

Optimist Club president Jesse Weicker said the club was pleased with both the turnout and the weather for the outdoor fundraiser.

"The club was glad the weather was perfect for a good old-fashioned concert on the ball field with one of the best bands in the area that has a very large following," said Weicker.

He added the Optimist Club would like to thank the community for its continued support, as well as the Sommers family and Apple Homes for providing additional parking space for concertgoers.

The event also marked the launch of the club's 50/50 draw as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations. The draw will run through Nov. 28, when the winning ticket will be selected just prior to the Tavistock Santa Claus Parade.