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Neepawa honoured by Tourism Westman
ArtFest and Amazing Race Neepawa earn ‘Event of the Year’
By Casper Wehrhahn
Two Neepawa events were recognized at Tourism Westman’s Tribute to Tourism Awards recently. On June 11, ArtsForward was presented with the ‘Event of the Year (Budget Under 10K)’ honour for the community events known as ArtFest and Amazing Race Neepawa (originally Amazing Race Downtown Neepawa).
“For Neepawa, [this recognition] is fabulous,” said Yvonne Sisley, executive director of ArtsForward.
Sisley emphasized that while the arts and cultural centre’s name is etched on the award, the recognition from it extends beyond ArtsForward.
‘Much more’ together
ArtFest is an annual event organized by ArtsForward with a focus on live art, murals, and cultural programming. Projects from ArtFest also traditionally contribute to the expanding Neepawa Art Trail.
Amazing Race Neepawa– a collaboration with several community businesses and organizations– sparked in 2025 with Belinda Critchlow of hid’n hollow. Critchlow brought the idea forward, and the new event was added to the festival that same year.
“Having [Amazing Race Neepawa] tied into ArtFest was great. What Amazing Race Neepawa has done for ArtFest is take it to a whole new level,” said
Sisley. “It adds another activity and makes more things for families to be able to do. We have been lacking, since Lily Festival, on a summer festival-type event. And when we started ArtFest five years ago, that was kind of the idea– ‘can we build this to a point where it could be a summer destination?’
Sisley added, “The Art Trail and all of that tied into it really helped, because it’s added a year-round lasting effect from the ArtFest. Adding Amazing Race on that same day and that partnership with that, it’s brought it that much more.”
This new facet of the event had 39 teams and 20 businesses participating. And, according to Tourism Westman, approximately 1,000 visitors throughout the community.
“It was really fantastic the ideas the businesses put out there, and I think everybody who played just had an amazing time,” said Critchlow. “Each business does their own idea just to try and showcase their business once the teams are in there. They went above and beyond.”
For the full story, see Page 8 of this week's paper!
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