COLD LAKE — Not even the rain could dampen the excitement at Exhibition Park on July 24, as more than 1,500 people gathered to witness the return of the RCMP Musical Ride, Cold Lake’s first time hosting the event in over a decade.
Families came prepared with umbrellas and ponchos, but the drizzle didn’t stop anyone from soaking in the pride and spectacle. With food trucks, static emergency services displays, and a live-action police demonstration, the event offered more than just horses and RCMP members in Red Serge.
Niki Elash, the office manager for the Cold Lake Agricultural Society and a volunteer on the board, stated this was the first time in 11 years the event came to Cold Lake.
"Last time they were here is in 2014,” she added. The RCMP Musical Ride also made a stop in St. Paul the day prior to the Cold Lake event, offering and afternoon and evening show on July 23.
“We were contacted by the St. Paul Ag Society to see if we wanted to join together and do a third one [show].”
Organizing the event took months of planning with the St. Paul Ag Society, who helped arrange accommodations and transportation for the horses, which were stabled in St. Paul.
Before the Musical Ride began their performance, the RCMP held a pre-show demonstration showing how officers pursue and arrest individuals in a stolen vehicle, a display that had the crowd glued to the action.
On the grounds, there was no shortage of family-friendly fun.
“We have the static display with the fire department, RCMP, EMS and that kind of thing. And then we have wolf pack bounce house for the bouncy houses and stuff.”
“The Beaver River Pony Club is also doing face painting and glitter tattoos for a little money,” Elash said. “And then we have just a couple of other vendors. And then we also had the farmers’ market going on at the same time.”
Despite the unsettled weather, the event drew a huge crowd.
Elash said creating a fun, affordable family outing was exactly the goal of the event.
