The Kwalikum Secondary grad parade is set for this weekend and Qualicum Beach is gearing up to help mark the right of passage.
Grad chair Sherry Waters said it’s always impressive to see how the community comes together to help the event, which this year has 76 entries so far and a few more stragglers expected.
She pointed out that while the police provide an escort, the organization and traffic control is done by the town, which has really gotten behind the parade over the years.
The parade kicks off at the high school at 5 p.m. this Saturday, June 4 and follows the familiar route of previous years. The parade will turn left out of the school and head up Village Way toward town, turn up Memorial Avenue into downtown and hang a right on Second Avenue for the run up and right into the Civic Centre parking lot to a big red carpet welcome.
Students will arrive and head into the dry grad festivities, with the theme this year of Under City Lights, with skylines and a big city theme.
Waters said among the fun vehicles there will be plenty of vintage cars, a couple fire trucks, a tractor, boat, float, scooters and ponies.
She said they are a bit worried about the turn-out this year with the parade starting at the same time as the Stanley Cup Game 2 and she urged everyone to come out and support the youth of the community.
Both KSS and Ballenas Secondary hold their formal commencement ceremonies June 29.
Parade Route:
- leave KSS, turn left onto Village Way at 5 p.m.
- left on Memorial Ave. into downtown
- right on Second Ave.
- left on Jones St. for a block then into the Civic Centre.