Summer Days Parade Notes:
• Friday, July 29
• Starts at 11 am at McArthur Place
• Route runs south on 100 Street to Main Street, turns right onto Main Street
• Parade finishes at Main Street and 103 Street at Tags and Squirrelys.
Friday's Summer Days Parade sets the tone for the event, says event organizer Lavon Fleming. It's also an event with a lot of moving parts — on and off the downtown Lac La Biche parade route.
"Its quite the process, advertisements for parade entries get posted, and they are returned by the applicants, and each entry is checked and added to a spreadsheet. The order of placement is very important, following parade protocol in terms of the RCMP, dignitaries... and with regard to whether or not the entry has candy-walkers, music, or both," said Fleming in the days leading up to the annual Summer Days event. "Special consideration is done for the safety of all of the entrants. Some floats are larger and drivers might not see candy-walkers easily, therefore placement is paramount to people's safety."\
All of the pre-event checklist items are then moved to the actual event, and that's where a crew of parade marshals come into play.
This year, again, the Lac La Biche Kinsmen club members will be stationed along the parade route to monitor and help the spectators and the floats.
Parade starts 11am at McArthur Place
While parade floats will be set up and organized along Churchill Drive, this year's actual start point is at McArthur Place, says Fleming.
"This long stretch of road is advantageous to organize on because it is easy to see the floats moving to position when being called up. It is also very safe because with the floats along the lakeside of the road, there is a lane of traffic open in case an emergency vehicle needs to access the roadway," she said.
The parade route will go south along 100 Street to Main Street, turn right, and roll west along Main Street to the 103 Street intersection at Tags and Squirrely's.
Fleming, a former member of the Canadian military, knows the importance of order and organization when it comes to any moving force.
"It is important that people understand the reasoning why the parade is in the order it is in, and that they should stay in the order they are told to be in, so they do not disrupt the momentum and safety for themselves and others," she said, offering last-minute advice to the participants. "It’s a parade, it sets the tone for the event, enjoy showing off your business, your cool vehicles, awesome horses and whatever. Just please stay in the order assigned and be cognizant of your own participants, spectators, and the organizing team."
The 2021 Summer Days parade was one of the largest in the 60 year history of the annual summer long weekend celebration. Fleming hopes to see just as many floats and spectators lining the parade route this year.
"For the spectators, enjoy the efforts of others, and cheer on the entrants – CATCH THE SPIRIT," she said.
