BY ERIN FAWCETT
Lacombe Express
There will be much to do on Canada Day in Lacombe.
A variety of events are planned for July 1st in the community and organizers say the family-friendly events will be ones not to miss.
“Canada Day celebrations have been happening in Lacombe with the fireworks for the past decade now - maybe even longer,” said Marie Péron, executive director of Lacombe Tourism. “We’ve been involved directly with the Canada Day celebrations for about the past three years. What we do here at Lacombe Tourism is help facilitate community events by applying for grants and bringing the community groups together and helping them with their marketing so that it’s all cohesive.”
July 1st celebrations in Lacombe will kick off with a pancake breakfast and family activities at the English Estates Centre (5842 Hwy. 2A) at 8 a.m. This event runs until 11 a.m.
There will also be festivities at the Michener House Museum and Flatiron Museum & Interpretive Centre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Flatiron Museum will also host a free walking tour at 2 p.m.
Live demonstrations will take place at the Blacksmith Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Bluebird Festival will run at Ellis Bird Farm from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. which includes live jazz music and activities and crafts for the entire family.
A Colour Guard March and Flag Raising Ceremony will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Lacombe Legion followed by a barbecue which will run until 3 p.m.
The Lacombe Community Market will also run from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The grand finale for the day will take place at Cranna Lake where a free concert by Randi Boulton and Flashback Freddie will take place from 8 - 10:30 p.m. Fireworks at dusk will cap off the day’s events.
Parking for the events at Cranna Lake will be available at the Lacombe Sports and Leisure Complex (5429 53rd Ave.); at City Hall (5432 56th Ave.) and at Ecolé Lacombe Junior High School (5830 50th St.) Woodland Drive will remain closed during this time.
“We encourage the community to come out because it’s a wonderful day to feel patriotic and to be proud to be a Canadian,” said Péron. “A lot of the festivities highlight community spirit but you will also get a sense of Canadian history and the role that individuals have played in our national narrative and in making Canada a wonderful place to live.”
Meanwhile, events are also happening in the Town of Blackfalds on July 1st. Festivities include free cupcakes, entertainment and family fun at the Tayles Water Spray Park beginning at 1 p.m. As well, from 3-5 p.m. there will be celebrations taking place at the Abbey Centre (admission required) and at 11 p.m. the day will end with fireworks at the All-Star Park.
For more information on local Canada Day festivities, visit www.lacombetourism.com or www.blackfalds.com.
news@lacombeexpress.com