Fireworks illuminate the sky over Medicine Hat during Canada Day celebrations in 2015. This year several events are planned to celebrate Canada's birthday throughout the region.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
This Canada Day long weekend several events are planned throughout the region including two firework shows Sunday and Monday evening.
Celebrations kick off Sunday as the Medicine Hat Skateboard Association is hosting several events at Kin Coulee Park. Along with traditional skateboarding the association is hosting live music and an outdoor dance party that includes several punk bands.
Organizers say the dance party itself will be an invitation from many cultures to showcase their styles of dances.
A fireworks show will cap off the full day of events starting place at roughly 11 p.m. in Kin Coulee Park.
July 1 the association will be hosting Beat the Heat, the largest amateur skateboard competition in the country that will include bouncy inflatables, vendors and food trucks, barefoot soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, cricket and more.
The Stampede plans to celebrate Canada Day with several free events including a free grandstand concert with headliner Foxx Worthee and their Canada Day Fireworks display that will light up the sky at 11 p.m.
Gates at the grounds open at noon with free hot dogs and bottled water. A Canada Day ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. and it will be followed with a new cake judging event that includes five local bakeries and will be judged by stampede dignitaries.
Throughout the day starting at 1:30 p.m. there will be several free activities and displays including bouncy castles, kids games, wagon rides, rescue dogs and race cars as well as police, fire and HALO displays and a rodeo royalty photo booth.
The Stampede stage will offer entertainment including belly dancing, gymnastic, archery demonstrations and tae kwon do throughout the day beginning at 1 p.m. Live music will take over at 5 p.m. with performances from Derek Hintz & Tim Herman, The Cruiser, Rent to Own and headliner Foxx Worthee.
“I think it’s exciting,” says general manager Ron Edwards. “It’s another event that we put on in the year.
“It’s another way that we can give back to the community.”
Canada Day celebrations will also be in full swing at Redcliff Lions Park with a free pancake breakfast between 9 and 11 a.m. courtesy of the Redcliff Lions.
Activities planned throughout the day include a demo from White Dragon Karate, live music including The Not Quites, Christie Kurpjuweit and Logan Straub, as well as free children’s activities.
There will also be free hog dogs from 1-3 p.m. and a pie rating contest at 2 p.m.
The community of Elkwater is also planning several events to celebrate the nation’s birthday that include a bike decorating event and parade, sandcastle building, a Canada Day tattoo booth as well as a painted rock scavenger hunt.
The Learning Centre will also be hosting several activities throughout the day including a slip and slide hosted by Cypress County Fire Services.
Medicine Hat Fire & Emergency Services is reminding residents it is illegal to ignite fireworks within city limits without a permit while celebrating the long weekend.
“It’s hard because I know people are going to do it anyway,” explains Curtis Sjodin, fire prevention officer. “That being said, if somebody phones it in, bylaw can come and give them a ticket so there are penalties to partaking in those activities. Even though it is green and it has been a wet year we still say do not do that.”
Sjodin says the fire department has issued permits for both large evening firework shows on Sunday and Monday and suggests bringing your family and friends to enjoy fireworks set off by trained professionals.
— with files from Anna Smith
