Burns Lakes is hosting its 5th annual Big Pig Mountain Bike Festival this weekend and event planners say, even if you're not into mountain bike races, there should be something for everyone.

After the tragic Babine Forest Product Mill explosion,  Jobs Minister Pat Bell brought together a group to boost tourism in Burns Lake.  That led to promoting local mountain bike experiences and more funding for the Big Pig festival.

The sun and heat is expected to hold out until Sunday, which means if you're participating in the Big Pig Mountain Bike festival make sure you keep hydrated.  Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association President Kevin Derksen says the sun brings people out, “This brings everybody out, last year it was really rainy weather, the weather co-operated on the weekend, but it t was threatening, so we are hoping this year to see huge numbers, coming out because the weather is spectacular and the trails have never been better.”

The rest of the community is participating too, today the downtown had outdoor vendors and music entertainment will be playing all weekend.  Sandra Barth, Lakes Districts Arts Council President says,  “It adds another component, there may be for example a husband and wife team come up and the woman is the biker and that provides something else, maybe the fellow is more interested in music, or for the kids as well, plus it shows them another part of the community at the lake instead of being up at the mountain.”

Derksen says that this year the community is showing excitement., “The community has really gotten involved this year there has been a lot of events going on, at the spirit square music from noon on, and got a shuttle van that is going to be coming from the music at the park up to the bike races so people can kind of check out both, and you don't have to drive, you can hop in a van and bounce between those sites, and there a mini train for kids to ride at spirit square and lots of other stuff going on, so it is cool, it is really exciting to see the community buy into the whole big pig fun fest.”

The Big Pig Mountain Bike Festival goes until this Sunday.