Courtenay’s Canada Day events play a big part for the young people of the Valley.
Over 100 will gather at Lake Trail School at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 1 and assemble themselves into age groups with their decorated bikes.
The theme this year is Salute to the '60s with a heavy influence of the Beatles, we will see many “flower children” and hippie dressups, too. The emphasis is on having the children decorate their bikes, not their parents, for prizes of $25, $15, $10.
The highlight is that all the bikes lead the parade down Fifth Street behind the 97.3 Eagle cruiser. All the decorated bikes get to be in the Grande Parade.
For those parents who do not accompany their children, please be at the Courtenay Recreation Association (CRA) at Lewis Park to pick up your kids at approximately 11:45.
For those who do not decorate their bike, they can compete in the Fifth Street Mile, which will start at 10 a.m., just before the parade. Chocolate medals for age categories of under 10 years, 10-14 years and 15-19 years will be awarded. Just make sure to register at Woods Avenue and Fifth Street from 9 to 9:45 a.m.
A bonus is every runner will get an exact time of how quickly they ran the one mile. Many families register for this event; it is always a pleasure to see Dad and his child running together in this event! And Mom, too.
Lewis Park is where Kids Zone will be in full swing. Special each year is the 7 Story Circus group, which shows how to walk on stilts, juggle, balance, etc.
The CRA will have lots of fun games as well as free swim all afternoon and Bounce Mania is offered as a free fun event, too, all in Lewis Park.
Don’t forget to pick up your free bike draw ticket from Mary Savy’s booth. Every child aged five to 12 has a chance to win a new bike and helmet. The bikes will be on display on centre stage in Lewis Park all afternoon and the draw will take place in Lewis Park at 4 p.m.
Simms Millennium Park will give kids up to the age of 16 years a chance to win money, too. On the stage at 2 p.m. the Métis jigging contest will take place and prizes of $50, $25 and $20 can be won. Registration is at 1:30 and all youths are encouraged to try this fun event.
It is possible that some child can win $25 in the bike contest, then $50 in the jigging contest and then get a new bike and helmet.
All information about Canada Day festivities in the Comox Valley are available at comoxvalleycanadaday.ca.
— July 1st Committee