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Central Albertans gear up for Canada Day celebrations

Jun 30, 2018 | 2:13 PM

Several communities throughout central Alberta will be marking Canada’s 151st birthday with Canada Day celebrations this weekend.

In Red Deer, celebrations will be taking place at Bower Ponds starting at 11:00 a.m. and running until the conclusion of the fireworks show which gets underway at 11:00 p.m.

The event will feature live entertainment, storytelling, arts and crafts and food from around the world amongst other highlights.

However, the Town of Innisfail is kicking-off the party early with celebrations getting underway on Saturday, June 30.

Residents are invited to head down to Centennial Park at 5:00 p.m. for some family fun, including an interactive children’s musical performance with Kelly Kalden, bird feeder crafts, bouncy castle, dunk tank with local personalities, bubble station and the RCMP Mascot, Safety Bear all on hand.

O’ Canada will be sung at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Jim Romane to bring greetings to the sudience at 7:00 p.m. 

Food and beverage services will be operating on site from 5:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m. with the Lion’s Club Beer Gardens open from 5:00 p.m. – Midnight, serving until 11:00 p.m.

Main stage entertainment will feature Joy’s School of Dance Performance at 5:00 p.m., Cole Martin at 6:00 p.m., Devin Cooper at 7:15 p.m., Cole Malone at 8:15 p.m., Barry Lloyd at 9:30 p.m and wrapping up with Devin Cooper and the fireworks show at 10:30 p.m.

In Penhold, all the action takes place on Sunday, July 1 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Street Rec Centre.

There will be bbq hot dogs, free bouncy castles, face painters, balloon animals and glitter tattoos, plus ice cream for sale by the Museum and cotton candy for sale by the Skatepark Association.

In Blackfalds, Canada Day festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. at Tayles Water Spray Park at 5018 Waghorn Street.

Residents are invited to dress up in their Canadian best and get ready to enjoy a cupcake and other goodies while celebrating a free community party at Tayles Park in the afternoon.

That will be followed by more cupcakes, popcorn and snow cones at the Abbey Centre on Womacks Road from 5:00 p.m.– 7: 00 p.m. and the unveiling of a Canada 150 Mosaic Mural at the Abbey Centre at 6:30 p.m.

An evening concert at the Ag Society Amphitheatre will wrap things up with Cole Malone and some fireworks to conclude the celebrations.

In Lacombe, Canada Day festivities begin early with a free pancake breakfast from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the English Estates Centre.

Lacombe Museums will be hosting activities from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. so you can see what the Blacksmiths are making or partake in some art in the garden.

Guided walking tours of historic downtown run from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Lacombe’s Flatiron Building will be open, horse drawn wagon rides run from the TD Bank parking lot from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., there will be a colour guard march led by the Red Deer Pipe Band starting at 11:30 a.m. originating from the LMC parking lot, in addition to a flag raising beginning at 11:45 a.m. at the Lacombe Legion.

Other highlights include a Lacombe Legion BBQ from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., garden party at the Michener House from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., community market at Cranna Lake from 4:30 p.m. – dusk, free live music at Cranna Lake from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and of course fireworks over Cranna Lake at dusk.

In Sylvan Lake, a fireworks display launches to the sky at 11:00 p.m.