Longview will be the place to be next weekend (July 20 and 21) as Little New York Daze, a summertime celebration complete with parade, fireworks and much more, takes over the quaint Foothills village.
The festival will feature a long list of activities over two days, beginning with a pancake breakfast on Saturday morning in the Village Hall.
It will be followed by the parade, which will make its way up and down Morrison Road starting at 10 a.m.
Caroline Williston, secretary of the Little New York Daze Association, said not only will the parade include community groups, vintage cars and other local favourites, but the Steele’s Scouts will take part.
The commemorative cavalry that brings Alberta’s history to life will also perform a mock shootout at the Twin Cities Hotel and Saloon following the parade.
“I think that will be a lot of fun,” said Williston.
Foothills legend John Scott, who has had a storied career in the stunt and film industries, will be on horseback as the marshal for the parade, which has a theme of ‘Shout out to Agriculture.’
Following the procession, there will be activities for the kids, including a bouncy castle, petting zoo and face painting, at the Longview School grounds from noon to 3 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup also includes a market on Morrison Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner at the fire hall at 5 p.m. and a fireworks show from the hill at the north end of town once it’s dark enough, likely around 10:30 p.m.
Sunday starts off with a church service in Centennial Park featuring the musical group Praise and Worship at 10 a.m.
The park will also host many other activities on Sunday from late morning through to late afternoon, including a market, show and shine, live music, concession and beer garden.
Sunday’s lineup also features a kite festival at the school grounds from 1 to 3 p.m.
Williston said the festival is a special date on the calendar for locals, but it also attracts many from outside the village.
“We had quite a lot of people from Calgary last year, which was good, and it's actually better this year because last year it clashed with the final weekend of Stampede, but this year it doesn't,” she said.
For more information on the festival, visit facebook.com/LittleNewYorkDaze.
