HYLO – Since 1990, Hylo Harvest Days has been celebrated in the Lac La Biche County community near the end of summer as a way of paying tribute to local agriculture.
The 2025 edition of Harvest Days is set to take place on Aug. 22 and 23 inside and on the grounds of the Hylo/Venice Recreation and Agricultural Society community centre. The Hylo community is located 25 km from the hamlet of Lac La Biche.
Yvonne Zevola, secretary treasurer of the Hylo/Venice Recreation and Agricultural Society, said Harvest Days 2025 will feature plenty of different activities for everyone to enjoy.
“We are having a corn hole tournament, live dinosaur show, and car show ‘n shine,” she told Lakeland This Week. The live dinosaurs, according to Zevola, are puppets representing various types of prehistoric creatures, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Triceratops, who will be at the event mingling with kids and adults.
The long-running community event starts off with a pancake breakfast at the community centre from 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 23. The traditional horticulture show, which has been part of Hylo Harvest Days for many years, will be held on Aug. 22 from 4-7 p.m.
Those who stop by Hylo on Aug. 23 will have the opportunity to take in the customary parade, which Zevola says is the kick off to all the fun events that happen during the day.
“People that put floats in are excited to participate and give out enormous amounts of candy,” she said, with a smile.
One Hylo Harvest Days event that is always popular, and causes plenty of squeals of laughter, is the annual pig catching competition. In this game, participants of all ages try their hand at catching, and holding onto, pigs of various sizes in a bid to win prizes.
This gruelling though very hilarious competition will be playing out at 5 p.m. on Aug. 23. According to Zevola, instead of everyone hoping into the ring to play, only young pig catchers will participate this time.
“This year, we are just doing the little kids two to 12,” she explained, adding that the pigs used in the event come from a farm in Wandering River.
When organizing Hylo Harvest Days each year, the Hylo/Venice Recreation and Agricultural Society starts planning in March.
“We do hire out some things, but it is 90 per cent volunteer run,” said Zevola.
“We feel that we give a night and full day to our community, and we don’t turn anyone away,” she said. “It’s just a fun outing for all who participate.”
For more information about Hylo Harvest Days 2025, contact Vyonne at 780-623-9756 or Sylvia at 780-623-7807.
