The Innisfail and District Historical Village was ready for the public on May 20 for another season, but its annual season opening party is set for this weekend.
The party, which will feature the annual vehicle show and a pancake breakfast cooked and served by members of the Rotary Club of Innisfail, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on May 28. The breakfast will go on until 10:30 a.m. The cost for admission is $5, which includes the pancake breakfast.
“We will be displaying our own vintage vehicles, plus we have people coming from elsewhere bringing their vehicles to display,” said Jane Duncalfe, events coordinator for the Innisfail and District Historical Village. She said the vintage vehicles will be shown throughout the village's grounds.
“It doesn't have to be just cars. It can be a tractor or old trucks,” she said. “People have brought motorcycles in past years, or anything people think is really cool that they would like to see displayed.”
Duncalfe said the day will also feature Spruce View's Easy Street band performing songs from the 1950s and 60s. All buildings at the village will be open for visitors to tour. As well, Miss Lulu, the balloon artist from Bowden, will also be there to delight children.
“She's very good. She comes to all of our events now. She makes amazing balloons,” said Duncalfe.
In the meantime, village officials are planning for a big season, which will see its annual Canada Day celebration, and the arrival of the historic Sinclair house, the pioneer home of Isabella Sinclair, the first Caucasian female to settle in Central Alberta. The two-storey 1,400-square-foot log home, which is more than 125 years old, is being moved later this season from the property of John Thomson, eight kilometres west of Innisfail.
The village is also planning several new summer programs this year to add to the drama camp that was held in 2015.
“This year we are doing our drama camp from July 25 to 28 and we are doing pottery on July 5 and 19 and August 2 and 16, and then painting the days following those,” said Duncalfe, adding the village will also be hosting photography classes on August 8, 10, 22 and 24.
She said the village wants to start Operation Generation this season, where seniors and youth exchange expertise.
“The seniors are going to be teaching youth practical things like sewing up buttons, baking and ironing and in turn the youth are going to teach seniors how to use their iPads and iPhones,” she said, adding the program will be held in July and August, although the exact dates have not yet been set.
Regular admission prices for the historical village are $3 for adults and $15 for a family of five or more. Children under the age of five have free admission. The village will be open every day. On Mondays through to Saturdays the hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., while on Sundays and holidays, the village is open from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information to the historical village's website at www.innisfailhistory.ca
Jane Duncalfe, village events coordinator
"It doesn't have to be just cars. It can be a tractor or old trucks. People have brought motorcycles in past years, or anything people think is really cool that they would like to see displayed."
