Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
Peace River Rotaract hosted another street party that locals say people will talk about for the next year.
The ever-popular River Days were held for the second year in a row in downtown Peace River June 20-22. Rotaract’s Rylee Labbe says they were so happy with the turnout and weekend’s proceedings.
“Rotaract River Days 2025 was a massive success from our perspective,” says Labbe.
“It was so amazing to see all the community members out and about all weekend long, enjoying the festivities and wearing their finest plaid.”
The weekend was held in conjunction with the World Jet Boat races, and included a parade, show and shine, karaoke contest, princess picnic, market and expo, games, and so much more.
“We received raving reviews from community members,” says Labbe.
“Those who appreciated the opportunity to reunite with old friends and celebrating what Peace River has to offer. They expressed how nice it was to see Peace River with a vibrant energy that has been missed for many years, and we are so proud to be a part of that.”
Labbe says there was a lot happening but the River Days Parade and the mechanical bull on Friday evening were big hits.
“Of course, the Mann’s Landing Market & Bouncy Castles on Saturday are always well-received and the Riverfront Fun Fair was a nice addition to the festivities,” she says.
“My favourite was the Princess Picnic and Superhero Showdown on Sunday, seeing all the little kids being so proud in the cutest costumes was the best.”
Labbe says having the event the same weekend as the Jet Boat races also helped increase the number of people flowing through the event.
“I think the large event turnout was attributed to the World Jet Boat Races, which was a huge draw for locals and visitors alike as we welcomed teams from around the world,” she says.
“It was wonderful to show what Peace River has to offer and we’re curious to see what next year brings in terms of attendance. We’re hoping there is a similar turnout as it was so nice to see Peace River as a bumping community where people are proud to live.”
Labbe says Rotaract would like to send a big thank you to Peace Regional Performance Club, the Glenmary Basketball California and Europe trips, Peace River Minor Football, Peace River Art Hub, Peace River Legion and the countless other organizations who volunteered their time on the weekend to make River Days a shared success.
“Volunteers are the backbone of any community event, and this event is no different,” she says.
“Rotaract River Days is funded through past projects, community grant funding, gift in-kind donations, and donations from the World Jet Boat Association,” she adds.
“We are also so thankful for the local businesses that reached out to make cash donations toward the event, increasing our ability to make the weekend even more fun for everyone to enjoy.”
Labbe says she and the team were hoping to grow the event to the must-attend event-of- the-year in the region to help grow the community.
“Peace River is one of the largest communities in the area and we believed it was time to host a summer event that put us back on the map, more specifically to spark community pride,” Labbe says.
“We wanted to host an event that would create fond memories for our local youth, boost economic development, promote tourism, and become a platform for everyone to thrive.”
Labbe says they also retained their popular Plaid theme to make sure the community could really get on board with the spirit they were trying to spread.
“Who doesn’t love a good theme?” she asks. “Plaid is something any Northern Albertan can get behind, and when you see everyone dressed similarly, we find it brings people closer and shows that we all have something in common.”
Not to fear, Labbe says their team is on a roll and the event can only get better from here on out. She says expect the River Days to make an appearance again next year.
“An event of this size is tough to put into words; it’s something we recommend everyone comes and enjoys for themselves,” she says.
“There was something for all ages, and with all the positive feedback we’ve received, we’re more motivated than ever to grow and improve it for next year.”
Peace River Rotaract is also looking for more members to join their team. If you’re interested, send an email to peace.rotaract@gmail.com or visit their website peacerotaract.com to check out all the things they’ve accomplished in Peace River.
- All photos courtesy of Photos by Lori of Peace River.
