History of the Rosy Rhubarb Festival

Fifteen years ago a small group of people gathered together with the idea to promote our small community of Shedden and also to raise some money for a new community complex.
The old country club had served Shedden and the surrounding area well for nearly 50 years, but the incentive was to have a new, larger structure with a modern kitchen. Rosy Rhubarb was created mainly as a fundraiser for the new building.
Gary Carr, one of the initiators of the fundraising idea, always masqueraded as Rosy Rhubarb. Since his death in December 1996, the organizing committee decided no one else could do the job the way Gary did and retired his costume. But the spirit of Rosy Rhubarb lives on.
The Southwold Keystone Complex is now up and running as a result of many groups along with Rosy Rhubarb working together to make this dream a reality.
Every year, on the second weekend in June, we celebrate the plant that put our village on the map. Gardens are lush with ripe rhubarb waiting to be turned into tasty treats for families, friends and visitors.
Only the best pies, tarts and cakes make it into our annual rhubarb bake-off. The winning entries are auctioned on the Friday night of the festival, kicking off a weekend of fun, community spirit and fundraising.
Come browse the yard sales, participate in the rhubarb pie auction, indulge in local baked goods and our famous Ice Cream With Rhubarb Sauce.
Like every year, a portion of the profits from yard sales and auction go towards the Southwold Keystone Complex. The 2004 Rosy Rhubarb Festival was the most successful yet clearing over $6,000.00 for the fund. To-date the Rosy Rhubarb Fund has raised over $322,000.00 for the community.
Fall, 2004
Rosy Rhubarb is a Winner!

Members of the Rosy Rhubarb Committee proudly accepted a unique and well-deserved award recently.

The Rosy Rhubarb Committee was chosen to receive one of the seven Awards for Rural Excellence presented each year by the Foundation for Rural Living. The committee won the award "leaves down" in the category of Outstanding Volunteerism.

Over the past 12 years the Rosy Rhubarb Committee through the Rosy Rhubarb Festival and other community efforts has raised $322,000. Through their dedicated efforts the new Keystone Complex was built along with the surrounding memorial gardens and picnic pavillion.

At present the committee is hard at work planning for next year's 13th Annual Rosy Rhubarb Festival coming up in June.