Organizers are expecting to build on the surprise success of the 2021 Summer Days celebration in Lac La Biche County — and they know they can do it with the continuing support of the community.
Summer Days is scheduled to showcase the community's spirit this year from July 29-31.
Last year's event was a 'back from the ashes' revival after two challenging years of pandemic restrictions.
"It was tagged with the catch phrase 'Something is Better than Nothing,' based on an event that was built within 10 days because of ever-changing pandemic rules," said Lavon Fleming, the returning president of the Lac La Biche Pow Wow Days and Fish Derby Association — the group behind the Summer Days celebrations and six decades of hosting the community's main summer event.
She said last year's short-notice event drew community support from every corner of the region, making it one of the best local turnouts in recent history ... despite the challenges of the previous years. One event that has been a staple of the mid-summer celebration over its 60 year history saw record-breaking participation. "The community came together, even building one of the largest parades seen in years!.The Community Spirit was truly amazing," Fleming said, leading to the 2022 Summer Days theme of 'Catch the Spirit'. The event has got the kick-start it needed, and now organizers and a growing number of community stakeholder groups can build it even more, she said.
"We see 2022 as the growth and development year of the Summer Days planning committee. It has taken four years to recruit groups to host the annual event, and those community groups are crucial to the success of the event; their participation allows opportunity to showcase their group while providing recruitment and fundraising opportunities," Fleming explained. "All that results in more Community Spirit."
Funding groups, saving money
The success of last year's comeback weekend helped to inject much-needed fundraising dollars into local groups, with thousands being given back to organizations that stepped up to help.
One of those new groups joining the event planning for 2022 is the Lac La Biche Ladies Muslim Association. The group will be hosting and organizing this year's Children's Fish Derby at the Hamilton Trout Pond. Another local group, the Lac La Biche Boxing Club, will be hosting a slow-pitch tournament through the weekend. Fish fry events, pancake breakfasts, entertainment showcases and beverage tents will also be organized and hosted by local groups.
The hard-work and dedication of those groups and the continuing financial accountability of the planning committee has not only brought their own financial rewards due to the success of the Summer Days event, it's also reduced the financial burden on local businesses when it comes to donations and sponsorships.
"The Summer Days financial stability has minimized sponsorship requests to local and area businesses," said Fleming, explaining that local merchants are also trying to find ways to rebound from challenging economic times. "We believe the financial strain we have all felt, put us in a position where it would have been unbearable to ask, and we are very thankful for being thrifty in managing our finances over the last few years."
This year's planning process has taken a lot more than 10 days, and organizers hope the community will appreciate the efforts — and enjoy some new events and guests.
Traditional events of the signature weekend will continue, including the Friday morning parade, the naming of the senior citizen of the year, a midway, local entertainment, Friday and Saturday pancake breakfasts at the Heritage Society and community fish fry at the Lac La Biche Agriculture Grounds.
Juggling math teacher?
New events on the schedule for the 2022 Summer Days weekend will include a Saturday show by the Canadian Trick Riders Association at the Lac La Biche Ag Grounds rodeo arena. The high-energy horse show will be followed by the community fish fry hosted by the Ag Society and the local Rotary Club. Friday's activities will also include the antics of a one-time Ontario Math teacher, turned chainsaw and flaming-axe juggler. Eric Miller — better-known in the event world as Eric the Juggler — will be a highlight in and around the Summer Days event on Friday. The charismatic catcher and comic has been a fixture at festivals and celebrations across the country for the last decade. Summer Days organizers say Eric will be at Friday's opening day pancake breakfast, in the parade and wandering the events. He'll be the guy throwing chainsaws and catching flaming knives, said Fleming with a laugh.
More high-flying flames will be be high overhead on Sunday night to wrap up the Summer Days events as Lac La Biche County will be hosting the annual fireworks show from McArthur Place. Leading up to the 11pm blast-off, local band Last Minute will be performing a free, all ages show in the McArthur Park bandstand. Other bands performing during the Summer Days weekend include Dirt Road Angels and Sweet Water.
Registration for the all-weekend slow-pitch tourney are still being taken, parade entries are being collected and volunteers are always welcome to help, said Fleming as the organizers cross the last few weeks until the July 29 Summer Days weekend.
"On behalf of the Summer Days Committee, we thank the Province of Alberta, and the following groups — the Heritage Society, the Kinsmen, the Boxing Club, the Agriculture Society, the Rotary Club, the Swim Club, the Ladies Muslim Association, the members of the Lutheran Church, our volunteers, our sponsors, council and the Lac La Biche County," Fleming said, encouraging others to catch the spirit of the event. "If your group is interested in joining the team, please contact me at 780-623-8636."
Details of the Summer Days weekend events will be advertised in the Lakeland This Week regional newspaper, at www.lakelandtoday.ca on 103.5 FM and on the Summer Days social media pages.
