Students are already counting down the days when school will be out for the summer!
In a month’s time, classrooms will be closed as students are eager for summer fun with family and friends. Along with it comes a busy time for community events and celebrations.
Summer traditionally kicks off on July 1 – Canada Day – after students are out of school. Many communities and holiday resorts will host special activities that day to promote and celebrate the great country of Canada in which Alberta is a vital partner.
Citizens across Alberta and Canada will take the time to connect with friends and neighbours to honour and reflect on the history and opportunities in Canada and freedoms that attract so many people from around the world. All cultures have made Canada the country it has become with a rich heritage.
Take time to attend events – small and large – in a community near you and get a taste of the Alberta and Canadian multicultural flavour. Support local events and support local communities. In many communities, Canada Day festivities conclude with fireworks late in the evening when the sky is dark.
Outdoor community events already start in late May. The busy summer schedule kicks off with the Harmon Valley Rodeo set for May 30-31.
Falher will be a buzzing community for the annual Falher Honey Festival from June 19-21. Known as the honey capital of Canada, Falher also has a rich Francophone culture.
The popular North Country Fair also returns June 19-21 south of Driftpile Cree Nation with a variety of music and activities for all ages as people travel from all over Alberta.
A third event in the region is also on the schedule for June 19-21. Peace River downtown will be the stage for the Peace River Rotaract River Daze. Let’s Paint the Town Red is the theme for the event where everyone is encouraged to wear plaid. Many activities are being planned at the themed event to engage locals and visitors, promote local business and support non-profit organizations.
Northern Sunrise County will celebrate Canada Day on June 24 at Cecil Thompson Park.
Spruce Point Park Wildrose Rodeo returns June 27-28 for the ninth year at its venue just west of Kinuso. In addition to the rodeo events, Spruce Point Park Association will also host a family dance and a fireworks show.
Another event on the river in the region is set as the Riverboat Daze in Slave Lake return from July 3-5. Held for more than 50 years, the event features a variety of events and activities for all ages as the major event of the summer in Slave Lake.
Riverboat Daze celebrates the main mode of transportation in the early days. Since riverboats were used before railways were built in the north, they were very important to the region. Riverboats brought settlers and supplies to the north from southern parts of Alberta and Canada.
High Prairie will be the place to be for two days at the end of July. The 64th annual High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo is set for July 28-29 as one of the biggest rodeos in small-town Alberta. It also features one of the longest parades in northern Alberta. Indigenous powwows, mud bog weekends and other community events are being planned for the next couple of months.
The coming weeks offer a variety of opportunities to experience the culture and history of northern Alberta and the province right in your own back yard.
So, there’s plenty to do and enjoy in a town near you! Check this newspaper for events as they near.
And, please, support your local communities!
Richard Froese