Organizers of Arden’s annual Crocus Festival have put the call out for fresh entries to their photo contest featuring Manitoba’s perky official flower. Photographers have until midnight April 27 to enter the contest, which has several categories and boasts a combined purse worth $680 this year.
Winners will be announced May 3 during the festival hosted by the Lansdowne Heritage Resources and Tourism Committee in Arden.
Last year’s delayed spring left photographers with only about three days to take and enter photos, said John Dietz, contest organizer. This year, with at least a foot of snow on top of deeply frozen ground, photographers may again have a very short window for crocus photos. However, if you can find them, crocus buds also can make a captivating photo, says Dietz.
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The contest is open for all residents of Manitoba, except professional photographers. Separate prizes, up to $50 each, are offered for youth, under age 18, and adults.
Arden is located six km north of the Yellowhead Highway, on the old Fort Ellice Trail, and about 160 km west/northwest of Winnipeg.
Judging for the first stage is conducted independently, by Henry’s Photo, Winnipeg. Second-stage judging is a public event that’s part of the Arden Crocus Festival. This People’s Choice Award is sponsored by the Manitoba Co-operator, and published by the farm newspaper.
Digital entries are printed in 8×10 format and displayed for one day at the Crocus Festival headquarters. The photo gallery is located inside the Arden Community Centre.
There are no fees for entering the contest, and no admission fees at the family-oriented Crocus Festival. Visitors will be invited to vote for their favourites from among all the photo entries.
Details on the contest can be obtained from the municipal website www.ardenmb.ca, from the RM of Lansdowne office in Arden, from local sponsors and from Henry’s Photo stores in Winnipeg.
