If you’re a die-hard fan of Castlegar’s Sunfest, you can participate in activities nearly every hour next weekend.
“You can roll out of the Element at [three] o’clock in the morning and just a few hours later be heading out for the pancake breakfast,” Ron Armbruster of the Castlegar Festivals Society said.
The annual event is jam-packed, starting with the Citizen of the Year ceremony on Wednesday.
Locals will get a one-night reprieve on Thursday before heading out to Kinsmen Park on Friday afternoon for Festival in the Park from 3 to 7 p.m., as well as the Sunflower Open at the Castlegar Golf Club, barbecue at the downtown branch of Kootenay Savings, slo-pitch tournament at Kinnaird Park and the highly anticipated return of the annual Miss Castlegar pageant.
And that’s just Friday.
Saturday starts with the Castlegar Rotary Club’s pancake breakfast, held in the Kootenay Market parking lot, starting at 7 a.m.
The parade begins at 11 a.m., with the route beginning on Columbia Avenue near Tommy’s No Frills and continuing to 13th Avenue, finishing on 3rd Street at Kinsmen Park.
“We’re anticipating about 50 or 60 parade entries this year,” Armbruster said.
The day continues with the Friends of the Library Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Lordco Show and Shine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library parking lot and the Royal Canadian Legion Strawberry Tea from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Festival in the Park continues until 8 p.m., with the new addition of the West Coast Lumberjack Show.
“They’ll be entertaining us at Kinsmen Park for six shows altogether on Friday and Saturday,” Armbruster said. “They’re a group of expert loggers.”
He said they’re not to be confused with logger sports, as they’re professional, but not professional competitors. The show will include activities like log rolling and chainsaw carving.
“We’re thinking the people of the area are really going to enjoy that,” Armbruster said.
Kinsmen Park will serve as the hub for Sunfest, and Armbruster said there will be activities “for people of literally all ages.”
“We’ve got well in excess of 40 vendors booked right now, in addition to the Lumberjack show that will keep people entertained, Mountain FM will be providing some local entertainment on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday.”
Inflatable activities, like a bouncy castle and Velcro wall will make an appearance for kids again this year, he added.
Saturday ends at Selkirk College with the Illuminadis fire dancers at 9:30 p.m., fireworks at 10 p.m. and the Relay for Life barbecue.
“The fireworks of course are always a big hit,” he said.
For those 19 and up, the evening continues at Element for the Sunfest/Slo-Pitch Dance until 3 a.m.
Sunday will wrap up the festival, with the pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., skate jam at the Rotary Skateboard Park beginning at 9:30 a.m., and the Selkirk Lion’s Club Family Day at Pass Creek Park. A children’s parade will start at 10:30 a.m.
“There’s prizes for each and every child that enters in that parade, and then a teddy bear picnic is being held at Pass Creek Park as well,” Armbruster said. “Lots of fun for kids of all ages.”
Armbruster said Sunfest would not be possible without their sponsors.
For a full listing of sponsors and schedule, please see page 9 of this week’s West Kootenay Advertiser.