Local harvest swing By Oona Woods What: Harvest Swing Where: Myrtle Philip school When: Oct. 24 You’ll be swinging for your supper with all the Whistler locals when this year’s harvest do takes place on Oct. 24 in the gym at Myrtle Philip. The Harvest Swing party is the main fund-raiser for Whistler Community Services Society and tickets are $25 if you buy them today (Oct. 16); from tomorrow they go up $10. Party organizer and community services siren Janet McDonald says the price is right. "The Harvest Swing features a silent auction, live music with the Arrhythmics, a buffet dinner, pumpkin carving and a whole lotta down home fun." The band are all about making people dance. Medical doctors during the day, the Arrhythmic play classic rock ’n’ roll tunes and songs everyone knows and loves to dance to. "They’re back by popular demand every year," says McDonald. "In fact there’s no way I could ever change the band." McDonald says the gym at Myrtle Philip is transformed into a fairy land. "It’s amazing considering it’s a school gym." Last year the event raised $12,000 net. This year McDonald says funds raised will be spread out over community service ventures, but primarily the money will be spent on the food bank. "It’s empty at the moment. Most food is donated at Christmas and that lasts through the summer. Right now we’re low on food and high on people. It’s shoulder season and people don’t have the pay cheques coming in." At this stage the Harvest Swing would be happy to accept more donations for the silent auctions. "If there are any businesses we haven’t approached yet it’s great advertising because there are 300 locals there." Party tickets for the post-buffet festivities will be available at the door from 9:30 p.m. onwards. Regular tickets, which include food, are available from Whistler Community Services Society, located at Myrtle Philip school. McDonald advises people to buy tickets soon as they sell-out quickly.
