One of the biggest days of the year is fast approaching, with the Okotoks Parade and Children’s Festival expecting to see thousands of people.
The theme for this year’s parade on June 15 is Celebrating 50 Years. The parade begins at 11 a.m., following the same route as in past years.
The parade marshal for this year’s event is Rose Marlow, a resident of Okotoks for 87 years.
“For all of the 50 years that we’ve been running the parade, she’s been here and she does love going to the parade,” said Janette Messer, community programs and events manager. “It’s that longevity, isn’t it? And certainly we were wanting to show appreciation to our longstanding residents.”
Marlow offered the Town exactly what it was looking for in a parade marshal for the 50th
anniversary.
“We were looking for somebody a little bit special in regards to inviting them to be the parade marshal, and Rose’s name stood out,” said Messer. “We (Messer and Mayor Bill Robertson) went and asked her today (June 7)and she was absolutely delighted.
“She was tickled pink.”
With less than a week to go, the parade is filling up and anticipation for the day is rising.
“We have right now just over 60 entries into the parade,” said Zach Adams, the new community events specialist with the Town. “For us (the Town of Okotoks float), we’ll be doing 50 famous faces from Okotoks, so you’ll be seeing different people from the area that are famous here.”
The float will feature many familiar faces such as Jim “Bearcat” Murray, Greg Wedderburn, Robertson, Coun. Ray Watrin, Sandi Kennedy and Shirley Paradis.
“We worked with our culture and heritage business centre to provide us with that information and we’re quite excited to actually have those faces showing on our parade float this year,” said Messer.
The parade is a community event, with all sectors of the town represented.
Businesses and organizations will be offering performances along the route.
Following the parade is the Children’s Festival from noon to 3 p.m., which is celebrating its own landmark with this year’s event marking 30 years.
“It’s always a free festival filled with live entertainment, crafts, activities, and food vendors as well,” said Andrea Spiers, Town of Okotoks cultural assistant.
Performers will include Christopher Cool, a magician; HOJA, an a cappella group; and Goodger Pink Family Productions, a local theatre company.
The performers will have a tent at the festival and will provide entertainment and activities throughout the event.
“On the main stage we always showcase the main acts, but then this year we kind of changed it up a bit to be a more vendor-based festival,” said Spiers.
“So we’re involving more local artists, local not-for profits and some local businesses have signed up here to have their own booth.
She said free crafts and activities will be available for those attending the festival this weekend.
A pancake breakfast sponsored by the Okotoks Lions Club will precede the parade in the Pizza Hut parking lot at 8 a.m.
For more information and map of the parade visit Okotoks.ca.
