Kids will excitedly wait to get their hands on bunnies, pygmy goats, miniature horses and other adorable animals Friday. Canada Day Celebrations will return to the Okotoks Recreation Centre. From noon to four pm outside there will be such kid friendly draws as face painting, a bouncy castle, a dunk tank and an assortment of gentle creatures from Mrs. Mundell’s Kuddly Kountry Kritters near Black Diamond.
As in years past, the local petting zoo is bringing many of its sweet natured animal attractions to Okotoks on July 1. Kountry Kritters operator Shirley Mundell said one thing she would have is a big bronze Tom turkey that everybody seems to love.
As common as it may sound to some Mundell admitted the bird often leaves people scratching their heads in amazement.
“At least 110 times I have had people say, “Are you sure that’s a real turkey?” she explained.
Mundell said she quickly responds with, “Yeah I am sure.”
Over time she’s learned many people don’t actually know what a turkey looks like when it’s not plucked and bagged and sitting in a grocery store. Besides the impressive looking bird there will be many other crowd-pleasing animals waiting to be handled Friday.
Lots of children Mundell encounters on Canada Day want to pet a kitten. She explained there never seems to be enough to go around and she has to take the tiny felines out of circulation once in a while to give them a break.
The petting zoo owner said there’s another type of popular critter, which can only stand to be touched for so long.
“I have pot belly pigs, young ones,” Mundell said. “But when they start screaming blue murder they get to take a rest too.”
Besides all the animals, local kids will also be entertained Friday by Calgary magician Richard Rondeau.
He said there’s one illusion he performs that always seems to captivate a crowd.
“One of the tricks people seem to remember and really like is where you’re producing coins from the air,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s the money aspect or what it is but it’s a very popular trick.”
Also performing on Canada Day will be Okotoks Irish Dancers and local singer Alexandra Enman. More entertainment means more reason for people to stay in town as they celebrate July 1.
Marg Cox, community events liaison, said in recent times people have become very invested in celebrating locally on Canada Day.
“We’ve had a tremendous amount of support and good crowds for it,” she said. “It’s gaining in popularity. We probably get 1000 to 1500 people. It’s just a great day, really well attended and I think people appreciate it.
Preceding the outdoor activities at will be a stroll with Mayor Bill Robertson Cox explained.
“The Go2 folks are hosting the annual walk with the mayor,” she said. “That starts at 11 am at the recreation centre. They take a nice route through the Crystal Shores pathway system. It’s been going on for a few years now but this year their upping their efforts and hoping some donations will come in. Those donations will go to Rowan House.”
The mayor will be back again outside the recreation centre for the Canadian reaffirmation ceremony at 2 p.m. and the birthday cake cutting at 2:30 p.m. Inside the centre there will be free family swimming from noon to two 2 p.m., free public swimming from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and an open gymnasium from noon to 4 p.m.
Wrapping up festivities will be the annual Canada Day fireworks. They will be fired off at Seaman Stadium at about 10 pm. after the Okotoks Dawgs battle the Medicine Hat Mavericks in local baseball action.
