Virtual celebrations are giving way to in-person ones at Candle Lake for Canada Day. (Submitted Photo/Candle Lake Parks and Recreation Committee)

By Rob Mahon

Candle Lake Celebrations

Candle Lake eagerly awaits Canada Day festivities

Jun 30, 2022 | 4:00 PM

Canada Day marks the unofficial kickoff to summer for many, and for the resort village of Candle Lake, that’s no different.

This year’s events have a little more anticipation around them for two reasons. One is very simple: this year, Canada Day actually falls on a Friday, causing a three-day weekend.

“I think anybody appreciates being able to add the civic holiday to a couple of days off to stretch it out,” said Brent Lutz, chief administrative officer for the resort village of Candle Lake. “We’ll probably see a lot more people take advantage of being able to go somewhere for the weekend. Often that choice to go somewhere would be to the lake, so we’re expecting a big crowd this year.”

The other reason this year’s celebrations promise to be so special is it’s the first Canada Day since 2019 without COVID restrictions. Some of their events couldn’t happen during the past two years at all.

“I think there’s lots of pent-up demand out there as people are anxious to see some of these annual activities come back into play,” Lutz added.

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The big event for the weekend, which hasn’t happened in the last couple of years, is the annual Canada Day parade. Alongside it, they’ll have displays and a hot dog lunch in the community hall, which is where the parade ends.

“Canada Day falling on the first of July is right after the school year. It sort of marks the start of summer, and certainly the start of people making plans to come to the lake as part of their summer activity,” said Lutz. “So it really signals the beginning of summer and lake life here at Candle for a lot of people.”

The parade starts at 11 a.m. and should end around 12 p.m. And as is the tradition in so many places, Canada Day will conclude with fireworks on the lake.

“Fingers crossed the weather will cooperate,” noted Lutz. “We’ve seen a lot of rain this spring and we’re hoping that we have nothing but sunshine on Friday so all of these events go off and everybody has a wonderful time at the lake.”

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP