Two neighbouring communities are offering a little bit of everything on Saturday for a favourite Foothills event that draws huge crowds every year.
The Diamond Valley Parade and Turner Valley Discovery Days is expected to attract thousands of people to Black Diamond and Turner Valley to enjoy an extensive parade, markets, children’s activities, live music, shopping and a large selection of food.
“I believe we are between 3,000 and 4,000 in attendance each year,” said Quinn Page, Black Diamond economic development and events coordinator. “That’s a significant number for our small Cool Little Town. It’s great for the community, it’s great for tourists and it’s great for our businesses.”
The festivities kick off with pancake breakfasts at the Oilfields High School and Diamond Valley Dental in Black Diamond from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Some streets will be barricaded at 9 a.m. and the parade will begin at 10 a.m. To view this year’s route go to town.blackdiamond.ab.ca
This year’s theme celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday with entries from the Calgary Stampede, the Okotoks Dawgs baseball team, the Shriners, Millarville Musical Ride, local businesses, sports groups and service clubs and various marching and pipe bands.
The parade marshal is Gordon Day with the Turner Valley Royal Canadian Legion in honour of the Battle of Vimy Ridge’s centennial anniversary.
“The Diamond Valley parade tends to be one of the largest parades in southern Alberta,” said Page. “It’s a kick start to the summer.”
Following the parade, spectators can enjoy many activities in the community including live music on The Westwood patio, a market in the AG Foods Country Food Mart parking lot, pop up markets and the Foothills Lions Club Duck Derby at noon in the municipal parking lot.
Proceeds from the derby support sports days at local schools.
“We encourage people to stick around Black Diamond once the parade is complete and tour through our cool little shops and downtown businesses,” Page said.
More businesses are getting involved by hosting sales and activities throughout the day, she added.
“We’re seeing the businesses collaborate a lot more this year to come on board and take advantage of the captive audience that they have right on their doorsteps,” she said.
Three kilometres west, Turner Valley Discovery Days will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Millennium Park, featuring a human hamster ball collision course, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, face painting, a sidewalk chalk art exhibition, vehicle extrication exercise and an artisans market.
The Turner Valley Fire Department will have an obstacle course, challenging youngsters to pretend they’re firefighters by crawling through tunnels and using a hose.
“It’s a free family event,” said Hazel Martin, Turner Valley community events coordinator. “We get a lot of families from not only Black Diamond and Turner Valley, but from Okotoks and Calgary. We have families that come and camp for the entire weekend.”
Martin said the event typically sees up to 1,500 people attend.
“It’s wonderful because it just keeps growing in popularity,” she said. “We are always really happy to see the number of people come out to support the parade and the Discovery Days festivities.”
Just north of Millennium Park, the Sheep River Library is hosting a book sale and Indigenous book display.
Visitors can cool off in the Dr. Lander Memorial Swimming Pool and nearby spray park, or check out the Foothills Model T Ford Club’s show ‘n’ shine in the parking lot.
Live music will be played at the Country Store Diner across the street.
The Valley Neighbours Club on Sunset Boulevard is hosting its annual Rhubarb Festival Tea featuring rhubarb pie and crisp and a sweet rhubarb drink from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., as well as a bake sale and quilt show at 11 a.m. where visitors can vote for their favourite pattern.
The Turner Valley Gas Plant will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a cost of $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $4 for youth and $30 for families. The facility is open Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays until Sept. 4.
Food will be in abundance throughout the day offering hamburgers, hot dogs and poutine.
Waste Management will be on site with a water buggy for people to fill up their water bottles and receptacles.
Martin said food vendors have been asked to use compostable serving ware that can be discarded in the receptacles to help divert unnecessary waste from going into the landfill.
To reduce traffic and parking throughout the day, a shuttle service will be provided between the two communities by the On-It Regional Transit from 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Stops will be set up at the Valley Liquor Store in Turner Valley and bus stop #4 at Centre Avenue and 3rd Street in Black Diamond.
Anybody interested in volunteering to man the barricades during the Diamond Valley Parade can contact Quinn Page at 403-933-4348.
For more details about the Diamond Valley Parade or Turner Valley Discovery Days go to town.blackdiamond.ab.ca and turnervalley.ca
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