WESTLOCK – A better organized, full-list of family activities and entertainment is on tap for Westlock-area residents to celebrate Canada Day this year.
The Town of Westlock community events committee is bringing back several events from its inaugural Canada Day in 2022 and have added some new ones for July 1, including axe-throwing, which will all take place behind Westlock Elementary School on the Thunderbirds football field.
“They let you come and you can practice your axe throwing,” said Town of Westlock Community Events Committee Canada Day coordinator Fiona Campbell. “We also have a few more people coming for the youth market this year as well and we have two face painters this year because we found that last year one wasn't enough.”
A free swim at the pool from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and a free barbecue by the Westlock and District Chamber of Commerce from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. kicks things off with opening ceremonies taking place at 1 p.m. on the stage, featuring guests and a rep from the town. There will be bouncy castles and games all afternoon while the youth market also returns this year during the same 1 to 7 p.m. timeframe. Dynamo Dogsports from Edmonton will present two shows, at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Henna tattoo and a face painting artists will also entertain families and one of the new features for this year’s celebrations from Jack Axe Inc., will be demonstrating axe throwing from 3 to 7 p.m.
“We are going to use the lights from the football field to light the stage for the entertainers in the evening,” said Campbell.
Tina Wold is overseeing the on-stage entertainment for the celebrations and said they are welcoming a bigger and better lineup.
“We’ve got a great line-up starting at 2:45 p.m. and we go all the way until 11 p.m. at night. We’re certainly hoping that we draw people out and they appreciate the talent that is on stage,” said Wold. “It is such, great, great talent. We’re so pleased with all who are coming out.”
Performers this year include local musician Ian O’Brien who was part of last summer’s Music In the Park series and the Westlock Ukrainian Dancers. Family Taekwondo will do an hour-long demonstration, followed by tribute artist Jaedyn who will perform an Elvis track and a Buddy Holly track, followed by children’s entertainer DJ Warkentin, Savage Plain, and the Joe Ireland Band will wrap things up before the fireworks.
“It's supposed to be a beautiful day and we have a lot of fun things going on,” said Campbell. “We would love everyone to come out Canada Day again this year.”
Pickardville celebrations
The Hamlet of Pickardville will be busy again July 1, with the annual parade, pie sale, activities for kids and the second-annual chili cook-off competition.
The pancake breakfast at the community hall starts the day and runs from 8- 10 a.m. and will be followed by the parade which runs from the St. Benoit Catholic Church and heads east down main street.
Following, the annual pie sale runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Benoit’s, a crib tournament is on tap from noon to 3 p.m., while a host of fun activities for kids will run at the Pickardville Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the chili cook-off competition running from noon to 2 p.m. at the hall.
Up in Fawcett
The Hamlet of Fawcett will also hold a July 1 celebration which kicks off with an 8 to 10 a.m. pancake breakfast at the community hall, followed by a parade at 11 a.m. which starts from the old school grounds.
The day will also feature slo-pitch, disc golf and cornhole tournaments, a lunch at the seniors' centre, plus a kids' carnival from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the hall and wraps with an evening cabaret back at the hall.
Thorhild Stampede
The 59th-annual Thorhild Stampede returns Canada Day with a full day of events including a rodeo, demolition derby and fireworks.
On July 1 the pancake breakfast starts the day and runs from 8 -10 a.m. at the community drop-in centre and will be followed by the parade at 11 a.m.
Rodeo action starts at 1 p.m. and will feature bareback, saddle bronc, novice horse, bull riding and junior bull events, as well as barrel racing, breakaway roping and team roping, plus mini bronc and sheep riding events.
Meanwhile, the car show starts at noon at the Agriplex, with a petting zoo and inflatable structures for kids also in the works — free-on-site camping is available and the beer gardens will be open all day. Finally, a steak supper runs from 5-7 p.m., while the demo derby runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and fireworks cap the night at 11 p.m.
