YORKTON — Free burgers, hot dogs and family-friendly fun drew hundreds of people to Painted Hand Casino July 10 as the organization hosted its annual Community BBQ.
The event, held in the casino's west-side parking lot, welcomed residents for an afternoon of free food and refreshments as a way of thanking the community for its ongoing support.
"We like to try and have events to give back to the community," said Mike Delowski, casino shift manager at Painted Hand Casino. "Free food for everyone, and it's just generally a lot of fun."
Guests were treated to hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks and freezies between noon and 2:30 p.m. Organizers also set up tents to provide shade from the summer heat.
Delowski said the community barbecue is an annual tradition at the casino, although this year marked the first time he had taken the lead in organizing the event.
The casino prepared for a large turnout. "We try to set up for at least 500," Delowski said. "It's a first-come, first-served basis, though generally we usually get through everyone before we run out."
While temperatures climbed throughout the afternoon, organizers said they were happy to deal with sunshine rather than rain.
"We anticipate a little bit of heat, but we'll take the heat over the rain any day," Delowski said.
As a non-profit organization, Painted Hand Casino views community events such as the annual barbecue as an opportunity to give back to the people who support the facility throughout the year.
"We definitely enjoy the support that our patrons give us, and it's nice for us to have an opportunity to give back," Delowski said.
The annual barbecue continues to serve as a community gathering place, bringing residents together for food, conversation and a chance to connect with staff from Painted Hand Casino.
