The Town of Turner Valley is inviting family and friends to ring in the New Year with a festive party that is a community tradition.
This is the eighth year the Town has hosted the Family New Year’s Eve Party. Festivities include wagon rides, outdoor skating, entertainment and fireworks at the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall and the outdoor skating rink Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“On behalf of council and staff we really feel it’s especially important to provide the community with an opportunity to celebrate the end of a challenging year economically for so many of us and also to share our optimism towards a better 2017,” said Monique LeBlanc, manager of community services and business development. “It’s really an affordable and fun way to start what we all hope will be an amazing year.”
LeBlanc said the free party draws people of all ages from Black Diamond, Turner Valley and surrounding communities.
According to a survey conducted by the Town, 37 per cent of people who attended last year’s event resided outside of the two communities, said LeBlanc. Twenty per cent came from Calgary, she said.
“They are coming out because they want to experience an authentic small-town community celebration,” she said. “The other opportunity it provides is to be able to showcase the communities of Turner Valley and Black Diamond to visitors from outside the community and provide them an invitation to come back and experience more of it another time, too.”
Community events coordinator Hazel Martin said the Family New Year’s Eve Party will include the traditional wagon rides, outdoor skating, face painting and balloon artist. New this year is cookie decorating, a photo booth for people to take selfies and pictures of the family and live reindeer in the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall parking lot. The family party will also include, hot dogs, beverages and snacks and the most popular part of the evening - fireworks at 8 p.m.
Martin said the event has grown significantly over the years. Recent tallies show it attracts anywhere from 350 to 450 people to the main activities and approximately 700 people to view the fireworks.
“A lot of families ask their friends and family to come and join in the festivities with them,” she said. “This event is very special. It’s popular.”
He said the Town contributes $5,500 and receives financial support from corporate sponsors and service clubs for the event.
Even mayor Kelly Tuck gets involved and made the decorations for this year’s Candy Land theme, said Martin.
After putting out a call for volunteers a few weeks ago, Martin said the Town succeeded in rounding up more than 30 to assist with registration, greeting partygoers, serving food and beverages, ensuring the safety of attendees at the wagon-ride loading area and assisting with the face-painting and cookie decorating.
The volunteers consist of individuals, as well as members from various service groups in the community including the Foothills Lions Club, Diamond Valley Block Parents Association and the 4-H Valley Acres.
Martin said this year’s volunteers include a young couple from Germany who is visiting family in the Foothills. For more details about the Family New Year’s Eve Party go to turnervalley.ca
