INNISFAIL - The town is revving up for an encore of last year's immensely successful Canada Day celebration at Centennial Park.
The celebration at Centennial Park on Saturday, June 30 will officially begin at 5 p.m. It is being run under the theme, My Canada, My Home.
If the town's budget for this year's event is any indication, the festivities will at least come close to being as spectacular as they were for Canada 150 in 2017.
Heather Whymark, the town's director of corporate services, said the Canada Day budget this year is $15,000, the same as for Canada 150. However, there is a difference for the fireworks display. Last year the budget was $10,000 but for 2018 there has been a moderate cut to $7,000, which is what the town normally budgets for every Canada Day fireworks display.
Town officials emphasized that last year's first-ever Centennial Park party was so successful, with between 1,500 and 2,000 citizens attending, it would be repeated with the same venue and special organizing committee.
Coun. Glen Carritt, who is a member of this year's My Canada, My Home Committee, confirmed the big Canada Day bash will be similar, with plenty of quality entertainment, amenities and activities for the entire family, including food trucks and barbecue, and a children’s games and crafts area.
"Our entertainment that we got lined up is phenomenal. We have Cole Malone, Cole Martin, and Devin Cooper all coming out to play. It's a great lineup. We got a great stage. The sound is going to be extra good this year," said Carritt, adding the Innisfail Lions Club will once again host a beer garden.
"Everybody has been putting in a lot of work and it is going to be a good day," he added. "Canada 150 definitely got a lot of people out and because it was so successful I think we will get most of those people back and more because a lot of people missed it and would like to come out."
If any citizen wants to help out and is looking for more details, he or she can contact Kane Williams, the town's recreation program coordinator, at 403-227-3376 ext. 217 or email him at [email protected].
Meanwhile in Penhold, the Canada Day celebrations will be held on Sunday, July 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lincoln Street Rec Centre. The celebration will feature bouncy castles for the kids, glitter tattoos, balloon animals, face painting, a hotdog barbecue, ice cream and cotton candy.
