Lloydminster Heritage Days drew out crowds in droves to celebrate how the community began. This year’s festivities saw an estimated 3,500 people learn and enjoy the history of the Border City.
This year, the Lloydminster Cultural & Science Centre partnered with the Richard Larsen Barr Colony Foundation and the Barr Colony Heritage Society to help make history come alive. Sponsorship was provided by the Lloydminster & District Co-op, ATCO, City Center Auto Body, Newcart Contracting, Quiznos Canada, Redhead Equipment, Synergy Credit Union and Tim Hortons. The Alberta Government also provided a matching grant of $6,000.
The support allowed this year’s heritage days to be a bit larger than last year’s. Staff were able to dress in costume for the 1910 and 1920’s era and carnival games added to the fun. Sarah Hockridge, recreation programmer and event planner for the LCSC, was pleased to say that attendance was more than double the previous year’s event.
“I think it’s really great that people are so interested in our history, and they want to learn more about what the pioneers went through to create their town, their homes, and build their barns. If it wasn’t for the pioneers, Lloydminster just wouldn’t exist,” says Hockridge.
Hockridge says the pancake breakfast was a fan favourite, serving 600 people and running out of pancakes at the very end. Live music, old fashioned games and an antique tractor parade added to the summer fun. This year also say a thresher demonstration, something which was foregone last year due to technical issues. Hockridge says that this year’s demo wasn’t advertised in the event the same problems happened.
“It’s a 75-year-old machine, so there’s a chance it just might not get running. We weren’t able to do it last year, so we did it this year. It’s hard to advertise something when you’re using equipment that’s close to 100 years old.”
Hockridge adds that this year’s weather and the community support made for a great event, and looks forward to planning the next one.