Organizers for the big Castlegar Homecoming weekend have been hard at work. The plans are coming together nicely and the registrations keep pouring in for the events on July 1-2. The event will help mark Castlegar's 70th anniversary of incorporation as a village and 50th anniversary of incorporation as a city.
"Businesses and groups are really coming on board now," said Castlegar Homecoming committee chair Joanne Baker.
The wine and cheese reception is shaping up to be a highlight of the weekend. The event will be held at the Castlegar Community Complex on Saturday, July 2 from 6-10 p.m. "The wine and cheese seems to be really popular," said Baker, "because it is more like an open house where you can look at the historical displays and you can meet all of your friends from the past." The event will feature historical displays including photographs, a feature on Castlegar's hospitals, the Waldie Mill and much more. A full lineup of appetizers is also on the menu.
Registration is required for the reception for locals and out of town guests. Tickets are $25, registration forms can be obtained through the Come Home to Castlegar Facebook page, the Castlegar Complex, Castlegar Chamber of Commerce or City Hall. Organizers would like to receive all registrations by April 30.
The historical displays will be open to the public, free of charge starting at 10:00 a.m. on July 2.
Another event requiring registration will be tours of the Arrow Lakes Generating Station and the Brilliant Dam. These tours are free, but arrangements for tour guides and busing must be made in advance.
Other events include:
- Royal Canadian Legion open house featuring memorabilia and community BBQ
- Annie B. Barnes will be doing readings from her books
- Pancake breakfast at CPR Museum(July1,$6 per person-prepayment required)
- Pancake breakfast at Cadet Hall(July2,$6 per person-prepayment required.Funds raised will go towards building a new cadet hall)
- Tours of Robson Church,Selkirk College andStanley Humphries Secondary
- Matinee movie at the Old Castle Theatre
- Open houses at CityHall, City Council Chambers, Fire Hall, Cadet Hall, Castlegar Library, Hi-Lite Restaurant and Walter Volovsek's historical displays
- Car show at the Community Complex
- Castlegar Golf Course will be offering a two for one golf special for tee times after 11a.m. July 1-3
- Photo exhibits featuring photography by Stefanie Harron at several locations
Commemorative t-shirts will be available for $10. The shirts can be pre-ordered on the registration forms and will say Castlegar Homecoming 2016.
Organizers are also collecting stories about pioneering or growing up in Castlegar. These can be sent to Betty Lutz at yippee@shaw.ca. The stories will be on display during the weekend, and will be made available to those interested afterward.
If you would like to volunteer to help out during the event as a registration volunteer or tour guide or help with package and prize assembly or any of the many other tasks contact Joanne Baker at 250-365-3884.