Indigenous dancers, Métis jiggers and marching bands are set to wow curb-side crowds at next week's Westerner Days Parade.
The 2024 edition of the annual kick-off to Westerner Days — which starts out from the Servus Arena at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday — will also have more floats than in recent years. Organizer Shayla Flanagan, events manager at Westerner Park, said she had to turn some applicants away as the parade reached its 120 float maximum.
Flanagan is thrilled by all the interest this year. This includes wide-spread participation from local Indigenous groups — including members of the Red Deer Indigenous Dance Troupe, the Red Deer local of the Métis Nation, Red Feather Women, Urban Aboriginal Voices, and the Red Deer Native Friendship Society.
Flanagan said Elders and dancers will be seen along the parade route — and some parade participants will form a walking medicine wheel.
Many local businesses and organizations will be sponsoring elaborately decorated floats and vehicles. Among the out-of-town entries will be floats from Calgary's Heritage Park, as well as from Edmonton's Windspeaker Media.
The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, also from Edmonton, will be marching in the parade along with the Red Deer Royals.
"There will be donkeys and mules... and quite a few horse-drawn carriages," said Flanagan.
The donkeys and mules will be highlighting Westerner Park's new Agventure attractions. "We're going to find out" whether the mules live up to their stubborn reputation, she added, with a chuckle.
"It's going to be nice weather, so we're really hoping for lots of families along the curbs."
The parade route through the downtown is the same as in previous years and can be found on Facebook on the Westerner Days page.
This year's fair runs from Wednesday at noon through Sunday, July 21, with the theme of "Do it For the Memories."
Several other lead-up events are planned, including the Bower Place Mall Pancake Breafast on Saturday from 9 a.m to noon in the Hudson's Bay parking lot. There will be interactive games and live entertainment. Admission is free, but donations towards United Way programs are appreciated.
Also, Family Services of Central Alberta is having two family events, starting with a Fun Fest of the Wild West at Parkland Mall on Friday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with free carnival games, crafts, photo stations, activities and prizes. Face paintings is from noon to 3 p.m. Also FSCA is planning a $5 lunch combo Cowboy Up Family Barbecue after the parade, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday at 5023 Ross St.
As well on Wednesday, members of Youth HQ will be flipping pancakes on the Ross Street site of the former Buffalo Hotel from 8 to 10 a.m. (for a $5 suggested donation to the non-profit). And Living Stones Church is throwing a free kick-off barbecue at 11 a.m. at 2020-40th Ave.
The Red Deer Regional Airport is hosting a Boot Scootin' Barbecue at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at the Sky Wings Aviation hangar. All donations will go to the non-profit Dress for Success Central Alberta.
Red Deer Polytechnic will have a Family Fun for All free pancake breakfast on Friday, July 19, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Parking Lot C of the Main Campus to celebrate RDP's 60th anniversary, as well as Westerner Days.
There are many other local business-sponsored pancake breakfasts and barbecues next week. Please visit the Westerner Days Facebook page for a full listing.
