YORKTON – Volunteers from the Otthon Community Hall held their Backyard BBQ Jam Aug. 10.
The event featured food, drinks and five musical acts playing hour long sets throughout the evening for event goers.
Some will remember the days of the Otthon Jamboree, an annual event featuring live music which Organizer Janine Hardy said the Backyard BBQ Jam was meant to emulate. And though it's been many years since a proper Otthon Jamboree was held, Hardy said these are the first steps into making it an annual event.
"This is our first year trying to slowly creep back into the Otthon Jamboree because the Otthon Jamboree is kind of legendary," said Hardy in an interview with SaskToday.ca.
"To live up to that the first year is a hard go. We're starting kind of soft. We've got a few musicians just volunteering," added Hardy.
"Next year hopefully we can make it bigger and better and see what we need to improve on and what we need to change and go from there," said Hardy.
Hardy said the idea came about when brainstorming a fundraiser for the Otthon Community Hall.
"We were talking about having a barbecue. Everyone you talk to — if they've heard of Otthon — that's what they associate it with," said Hardy.
Hardy said the hall, like everything, needs support in order to stay in operation.
"We don't want to lose it. We've got our expenses ... if we don't have these events there's no money to pay for the bills," said Hardy.
Can-seed, Cargill, Legacy Coop and Joe Beeverz were among this years sponsors for the free to attend event, with the funds from food and drinks destined for the hall.
Hardy said the hall has been applying for grants and noted the extra funding will go towards a fresh coat of paint as well as a wheelchair accessible bathroom for the hall among other things.
"We've got high hopes but it all takes money," said Hardy.
Hardy said anyone looking to book the hall can contact them by email.
