Canada Day in Lacombe and area should be bigger and better than ever this year, with numerous events planned throughout the district.
Marie Péron, executive director of Lacombe Regional Tourism, said thanks to the organization and collaboration, there will be more to do this Canada Day than ever before. Péron added that all the events are family-friendly and a great way to entertain visitors over the holiday.
In Lacombe, things will kick off in the morning with a number of events beginning at 8 a.m. at English Estates Centre. Central Alberta Co-op will be hosting a free pancake breakfast with live entertainment from Flashback Freddie. There will also be face painting and a Kiddies Kash Sand Pile where children 10 and under will be able to dig for buried treasures in the sand.
Later in the morning, starting at 11:30 a.m., there will be a colour parade marching from the Lacombe Memorial Centre to the Lacombe Legion where the second annual flag raising event will take place. After the flag raising ceremony at noon, the Lacombe Legion will be hosting a fundraising barbeque where visitors can have lunch for $5.
During the afternoon, Alberta Downs will be hosting a fan appreciation day during their usual race times with $2,000 to be given away in betting vouchers. Just outside Lacombe, Ellis Bird Farm is inviting families to pre-register to build a birdhouse and enjoy some treats.
As usual, Lacombe’s museums will play a central part in the City’s Canada Day celebrations. Participants in Lacombe’s Canada Day events can look forward to downtown walking tours led by costumed characters, live demos at Michener House and the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop and a movie showing at the Flatiron Building.
Péron said the museums have become a staple in Lacombe’s Canada Day celebrations. By celebrating Lacombe’s history, the community also celebrates its heritage, its roots and by extension, the heritage and roots of Canada as well.
“I think it’s important to remember, as we celebrate each passing birthday of Canada, that we gain more rich history every year,” said Péron. “So it’s a nice way to shine a focus on the museums and have people appreciate their local history as well.”
At Michener House, a wool spinner will be doing a demonstration turning raw wool into yarn and then using yarn to make keepsakes for visitors. Meanwhile, at the Blacksmith Shop, visitors can see a variety of items made by Lacombe’s blacksmiths including one of the shop’s newest apprentices. Starting at 3 p.m., the Lacombe Flatiron Building will be doing a showing of the film The Magic Ordinary Days, a Hollywood film that was shot in Lacombe and showcases Lacombe’s historic downtown.
In Blackfalds, free cupcakes will be given out at the Tayles Water Park at 1 p.m. and Eckville and Bentley will be celebrating in the evening with a number of events like music, face painting, other events for kids, hot dogs and of course birthday cake.
Several communities in the area will be topping off their Canada Day celebrations with fireworks at dusk. Fireworks will be held in Eckville at All Star Park in Blackfalds or at Cranna Lake in Lacombe.
In addition to the Canada Day events, the first annual Tail Creek Mud & Music Festival will be held the June 27-29th weekend and serve as a prelude to Canada Day celebrations.
The festival will feature music from Korn, Chevelle and Five Finger Death Punch as headliners as well as Theory of a Deadman and Killswitch Engage. In addition to the music, the ‘mud’ side of the festival will feature high octane entertainment courtesy of Hardcore Racing Canada.
For more information on Canada Day events in Lacombe and area, visit www.lacombe.ca or www.lacombetourism.com.