It was a magical weekend for many, with the atmosphere just right for Halloween.
However, the season of creepy-crawlies and other nefarious things wasn't the only party being held in Carlyle.
Shockwave Youth Centre, a facility run by the Carlyle Pentecostal Assembly, celebrated its first anniversary in style, with the events going on for two days.
While the facility is used for church-related youth programs, Shockwave opens its doors on Friday and Saturday nights to all youth, providing a secular, monitored place for young people to spend their time.
Managed by Pastor Matt Redstone, the youth centre brings in scads of children during its open hours, sometimes seeing as many as 30-50 children spending their time in the facility.
Well appointed with video games, televisions, and numerous table games, the centre also boasts a small confectionary.
"Our numbers have been growing steadily throughout the year, though it varies from night to night, and weekend to weekend," Redstone said. "Overall though, the numbers seem to be growing."
Redstone attributes the growing numbers partly to a growing awareness of the existence of the youth centre in outlying communities.
"A lot of the growth we've seen number-wise seems to be coming from outside communities, like White Bear, Manor, and Arcola," Redstone said. "The kids really like having a place they can come, and the parents seem willing to make sure they get a lift into and from town so they can come and attend."
To kick-off the anniversary celebration, Shockwave held a luncheon on the afternoon of Oct. 29.
Offering hot dogs and sodas at one buck each, the facility was packed with people by 12:20 p.m.
Making a short address, both Redstone and Pastor Louis Halbgewachs were both brief as they addressed the crowd, thanking them for the support for the centre, as well as their attendance at the luncheon.
The luncheon was only part of the festivities to mark the anniversary however, as the night of Oct. 30 also held a special event; this one for the kids who attend Shockwave.
Returning for a second year, the band 'Cities Under Fire,' was back in town to celebrate the anniversary of the youth centre they had helped open with a concert the year before.
Cities Under Fire, a Christian rock band, has been consistently growing in popularity over the past year.
Hard on the heels of their singles released last year (which broke into the top 100,) the band released their first full-length CD, 'Lukewarm Love,' to rave reviews in February of this year.
The band, which consists of Jardeth Hemmerling (guitar and vocals,) Andrew Hemmerling (percussion,) David Miller (lead vocals,) and new addition Nathan Chernesky (bass guitar,) has been keeping an active tour schedule in an ever-widening area.
"We've had a really great year this last year," Jardeth said. "We've been to places we hadn't been before, touring all the way out to Ontario, and our fan base is constantly growing."
Their new album, while lacking a unified theme, shares a consistent message in many of the songs.
"The album is titled 'Lukewarm Love,'" Miller said. "The songs aren't really put together with a theme in mind, but I guess you could say quite a few of the lyrics kind of reach back to that core idea."
One of the singles off the album, 'Wake Up,' is presently playing on Christian rock stations right across Canada.
"We really are happy with the way things are going now," Miller said. "I guess for goals for the coming year, writing a follow-up album, and touring more widely across Canada."
"The tours have been great, and have given us the chance to share our message with people who might otherwise not have a chance to hear it," Jardeth said. "It has been really fun, and it is quite a privilege as well."
Opening for Cities Under Fire at the Friday night show at Shockwave was first-time Carlyle visitors, the band 'The Fall and Assault.'
The band, which included members Derek Friesen (guitar and vocals,) Tyson Unrau (percussion,) and Darryl Wiebe (bass guitar,) has been together for two years, and has one, self-titled, album.
"We haven't been as busy over the last year as we were previously," said Unrau. "I got married just about a year ago, and Darryl has just been engaged, so that slowed down the touring a little bit."
"We don't really go out to play music so we can be rock stars," Unrau said. "We do it because we have fun, and it is something we like to do."
"Derek and I have been playing together since we were 10 years old," Unrau said. "It is like old habit for us to play together. It is just something we do."
The two bands, which have met numerous times over the years, were not touring together, but had been booked independently for the Carlyle show.
