Occasionally, they are front and centre but more often than not, volunteers who put their time and effort into organizing and hosting community celebrations can be found working hard behind the scenes.
Those who show up on celebration day to enjoy the fruits of volunteer labour owe a big thank you to those who have worked countless hours in the weeks and even months leading up to the event.
Two of the biggest celebrations in the county region this summer took place this past weekend. Both Coaldale and Barons were celebrating in their communities. For Coaldale, it was the annual Settler Days weekend, along with the traditional Candy Parade, which drew crowds to the community. In Barons, it was the 100th birthday for the village which drew second, third and even fourth generations of some families back home to celebrate.
Behind the scenes of any community event there are hours of work which never see the light of day. The parade, always a popular attraction for all ages, requires hours of organizing, not to mention the hours put in by parade entries preparing their floats or vehicles for the trek down mainstreet.
No one just shows up on parade day and wings it. For those sitting on the sidelines, the amount of work that goes into preparing for a parade may not be obvious but it is certainly appreciated by those who line the streets to take it all in.
Hosting a community celebration takes numerous volunteers, from those who walk the street during the parade handing out candy to those working behind the scenes on everything from cooking up burgers to painting up faces. There is no end to the number of different events and volunteers needed to put on a community celebration.
While Barons and Coaldale volunteers can now take a break, the work is still underway for volunteers in Coalhurst, Nobleford and Picture Butte, who will have to wait until August to host their community celebrations.
It is not too late for residents of these communities to step up and volunteer their time to ensure their community celebrations are just as great as they have been in the past.
All too often the work of hosting a community celebration falls to a core group of volunteers who seem to do all the work, year in and year out. While their dedication is to be praised and admired, they need help. Anyone who enjoys taking part in a community celebration should also be willing to do their part to ensure the celebrations continue on an annual basis.