Organizers of Summertime Country Drive — a self-guided tour of rural businesses in Central Alberta — could be excused for being a little nervous in the days leading up to the Aug. 7 and 8 event.
That’s because other recent Country Drives have fallen victim to miserable weather.
“We have been absolutely jinxed with our last three events,” said co-ordinator Kathleen Raines, recalling how snow flurries spoiled Springtime Country Drive in May, an “unbelievable blizzard” accompanied Christmas Country Drive last December and sub-zero temperatures greeted participants in Harvest Country Drive on the Thanksgiving weekend.
But the operators of 16 regional businesses and attractions are ready to try again, with these ranging from U-picks to country museums.
“People will enjoy every stop they make on the Country Drive,” said Raines.
Among those taking part are Ellis Bird Farm east of Blackfalds, HolmeHus Antiques west of Red Deer, the Danish Canadian National Museum and Gardens at Dickson and Bowden SunMaze west of Bowden.
Visitors will be able to buy produce, crafts, antiques and other products, or enjoy a little rural entertainment.
All 16 sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with route maps and site descriptions available online at www.countrydrive.ca.
Country Drive brochures can also be found throughout the region and as far away as Calgary.
“We printed 10,000 of them, and the main way they’re being distributed is through farmers markets,” said Raines.
Participants are urged to visit no more than four or five Country Drive destinations each day, with all 16 destinations and many others continuing to operate after the Aug. 7 and 8 weekend.
The Country Drive group actually consists of 27 members this year — up slightly from 2009 — although not all are included in the Summertime tour. New additions include Sylvan Star Cheese, BillyCo Junction Gardens and Raines’s own Starkroft sheep farm.
Despite the fact Starkroft is new to the Country Drive club, Raines has been involved since the program’s inception in 2004. That’s when the founding members of the marketing initiative toured each others’ places of business.
“That was sort of our getting-organized year,” said Raines, who then worked at the Historic Markerville Creamery Museum.
Since then, Country Drive has expanded from a single July event to four spread throughout the year.
“We’re now offering people a lot more choices.”
The 2010 Harvest Country Drive is booked for Oct. 2 and 3, with the Christmas event to follow on Dec. 4 and 5.
Raines is focused on the upcoming Summertime Country Drive, although so far she’s resisted the urge to check the long-term forecast.
“I prefer to live in denial. I’m just assuming it’s going to be wonderful.”
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com