NEW LOWELL - The 34th annual Sunnidale Winterama Carnival kicks of Thursday in New Lowell, but if it weren’t for the volunteers that help present the four-day event each year it wouldn’t happen.

Or, Winterama spokesperson Debbie Bronee says, if it did the fun would most certainly be scaled down.

“Without volunteers it just wouldn’t be possible,” Bronee said. “We wouldn’t be able to run it. You might be able to do one day, maybe, but that would be it.”

Each year 50 to 100 volunteers step forward, she said.

“We’re really lucky because organizations in the community, the churches, the firefighters, the Barrie Snowmobile Club – they really take ownership,” Bronee said.

Thanks to the volunteers, the organizing committee “just kind of takes on a coordinator role,” she explained.

Another example of volunteers taking ownership that Bronee gave is the Clearview Fire Department. Its members at Station 3 in New Lowell run the spaghetti supper each year on Thursday night at the Royal Canadian Legion.

John van Voorst, a Sunnidale Concession 2 resident, has been involved off and on with Winterama since 1980.

“I was on the Brentwood Hall board and was first involved that way,” he said, adding hall board members often helped with whatever was needed.

Van Voorst said that for a few years he also brought his Percheron horses and a sleigh to New Lowell Recreation Park on County Road 9 and gave rides.

The last couple years he’s helped with the nail-driving competition in the park on Saturdays.

The 67-year-old said he does his part because he wants to be community-minded.

Still, if the carnival is to continue in the years to come more young people need to help out, he said.

Bronee said other long-time volunteers that have helped make the carnival possible each year are Dave Wylie, Murray Stephens, John McGillvray, Dave Ball and Morgan Taylor.

Bronee described the carnival as a real team effort.

Generous sponsorship over the years has also helped Winterama succeed.

For example, she said Stayner Rental has always been good about providing equipment and the Royal Canadian Legion in New Lowell has made its building available for activities free of charge.

Most carnival activities are based at the legion or at New Lowell Recreation Park. Both are located on County Road 9 in the village.

For a full run-down of carnival activities, see page 24 of this week’s edition.