Coaldale Settler Days kicks off on Friday

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

Parades, art shows, wagon rides, BBQ and Disney princesses are just some of the features of what promises to be a fun-filled event in Coaldale this weekend.

Coaldale’s Settler Days festivities go July 6-7, and with the town taking over running it from the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce, the pressure is on for the town to make their first Settler Days a success.

“Last fall the Chamber of Commerce and the Town discussed options for the event planning for the Settler Days Celebration. It was decided that the torch would be passed to the town and in April, the Community Services Department was given the honor and privilege of organizing this community event,” said Cindy Hoffman, community services manager for the town. “A Volunteer Community Working group was established with volunteers from the community sitting on the working group. By including community members in the planning from day one, the working group was able to tap into new ideas for activities and events that hopefully the entire community will enjoy.  The Chamber of Commerce has worked very closely with the Working Group throughout the entire planning process.  We are very grateful for this help.  The Working Group hopes to build on this year’s event so that in 2019, Coaldale’s 100th Anniversary year will be bigger and better yet.”

Festivities will kick off on Friday, July 6, with two movie showings in Millennium Park. The first movie will be Peter Rabbit, starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, starting at 8:20 p.m. Since it will still be light out when the films start playing, the town is using a special 12-foot LED screen that is a bit smaller then their regular screen. A cribbage tournament will also go at the community centre that evening, with registration starting at 7:15 p.m. and the tournament beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 7, kicks off at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the community centre, host by the Knights of Columbus. Following breakfast will be a thrift shop at the Coaldale United Church at 9 a.m. and the Art and Culture Committee will be holding a Pop-Up Art Show at the community centre, where members of the community can place items into.

“Its all going to be whatever your eye perceive, you’ll be able to place pieces and items into this artwork, and at the end of the day, we’ll have this recycled art, so that will be kind of fun as well.”

The infamous candy parade will go at 11 a.m. If you don’t want to fight the crowds, the parade will be live-streamed this year, and announcers will be providing commendation on the different floats. Afterwards, everyone is invited to come down to Millennium Park for the Party in the Park.

“This year, there will be a lot of the same things; bouncy castles, face painting, a petting zoo — we’ll have a reptile zoo this year, which is kind of new,” said Hoffman. “Domesticated Divas will be putting on the market in the arena. We’re going to have a slip-n-slide, similar to what we had last year at Canada Day, so that was a big draw last year.

For those who would like to eat something other then candy after the parade, the Coaldale Food Bank will be having a BBQ lunch in the park.

The Coaldale Kinsmen will be running a family friendly lounge or beer garden that is open to the whole family. Live entertainment will be playing on a stage there from 11:15-8:30 p.m., and include groups such as Taiko Drummers, performances from the local studio Dance Images and ADEQUATE.

“We have a great lineup of artists who will be performing. Four promotional videos from the artists will be playing on the Town website at http://www.coaldale.ca. ADEQUATE is playing now and three more will be posted over the next few days. Check them all out to get a feel for what to expect on stage.”

At 12:30 p.m., there will also be an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for a natural playground behind the HUB building.

“A highlight of the day’s events will be the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Coaldale Natural Playground, located immediately behind the HUB building.  This playground is a space for children and families to connect and interact with nature and is the first playground of its type in Coaldale.”

Also making their debut appearance at Settler Days, Disney Princesses Cinderella and Belle will be wondering around the park and visiting people from 12-2 p.m.

Hoffman said that the town and working groups thanks the chamber of all their hard work putting on Settler Days in the past and for their help and support with helping the town put it on in 2018, as well as all the businesses, service groups and volunteers who have helped make this year’s event a success.

“We have some very big shoes to fill and hope that we can provide the community with an outstanding community event like the Chamber has done in the past,” said Hoffman.

“We would like to invite everyone out to the Settler Days Celebration. Take in the movies and crib tournament Friday night. Enjoy the parade and then stop in, say hi, and support our local businesses before joining the party at the Library and Millennium Park.We look forward to seeing everyone at the Settler Days Candy Parade and Party in the Park.”

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