A group of Foothills residents will be racing to support the arts this weekend.
The Okotoks Arts Council is hosting its inaugural Taste ‘n’ Task Car Rally on Oct. 29 which challenges teams of up to four people to take on challenges related to the arts and food at businesses in Black Diamond, High River, Okotoks and Turner Valley.
Teams will collect points for completing tasks, posting pictures on social media, dressing up, creating a team name and doing extra tasks, and lose points if they need help navigating the challenges. The team with the most points wins.
“They are given clues to figure out where to go,” said Linda Macallum, president of Okotoks Arts Council.
“Our theme is art and culinary so there is going to be lots of fun things for them to challenge their right brain. It’s all creative stuff and should be a really fun day.”
Macallum said once the teams arrive at their destination they will be given a task. Once the task is completed the merchant stamps their passport and the team proceeds to the next destination.
“We were looking for ways to fundraise for the arts council,” said Macallum. “I have done a couple of these and they’re usually fairly good.”
Cheryl Taylor, also a council member, said Taste ‘n’ Task Car Rally is a great way for people to explore what the Foothills has to offer.
“They will go to businesses that they have likely never been to before so it’s a huge awareness of what’s in the area,” she said. “Quite often we go to the city for services or restaurants and cafes when we actually have them right here. What a great way to illustrate what we’ve got here and encourage more local shopping and eating.”
Taylor said more than 50 businesses have signed on to create challenges for the rally.
“It has been left up to the businesses as to what it is they want the participants to do,” she said.
Taylor said road rallies are becoming very popular in southern Alberta.
“Linda has participated in quite a few, which is where the idea of hosting a rally came from,” she said. “It’s like a large-scale scavenger hunt – much like geocaching. I’m certain that shows like The Amazing Race and events like geocaching are the reason why these types of activities are popular now.”
The Taste ‘n’ Task Car Rally is not only fun, but a great way to raise awareness and money for the Okotoks Arts Council, which is a volunteer organization that contributes to the vibrant arts community in Okotoks, said Taylor.
“We need to step it up to bring awareness of the Okotoks Arts Council, what we do and our need for funding to support arts and culture in our communities,” she said.
The cost to register for Taste ‘n’ Task Car Rally is $40 per person and the proceeds will help support entertainment, festivals and art activities and programs hosted by the council.
The rally begins at the Royal Canadian Legion Turner Valley Branch at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 29. For more information or to register go to okotoksartscouncil.ca
