LISSA ALEXANDER
reporter@pqbnews.com
It’s time to celebrate family again in Qualicum Beach and this Sunday there will be a parade, activities, games, music, food and much more.
May 25 is the 38th annual Family Day in Qualicum Beach and this year there will be some new things to discover on the Civic Centre fields, including Milner Garden’s Shoots with Roots program and interactive information about the Deep Bay Marine Shellfish Station.
The evening before the parade, at dusk (May 24), residents can enjoy the Quality Foods Festival of Lights Fireworks down at the public beach area.
Family Day kicks off with a Shriner’s pancake breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the Civic Centre parking area on May 25, which runs until 11:30 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon there is a free swim at Ravensong Pool (sponsored by RBC in Qualicum Beach).
Pre-parade entertainment along the parade route includes the Rainbow Stew Cloggers and at noon the parade will take over the streets near Memorial and Second Avenue and head towards the Civic Centre. Those who have not registered to be in the parade can still do so, the theme of the event this year is Circus Carnival. Visit the website to register, www.qbfamilyday.com.
Parade judging takes place before the parade starts at 11:30 a.m. with categories: Best Community Spirit, Best Float, Best Youth Participation and Best Costume.The Civic Centre fields will be filled with excitement and boisterous activities from 1 to 4 p.m.
“My kids have decided they are doing the climbing wall this year so they are excited about that and they are very excited about the pony rides,” said Chairperson of the Select Committee on Family Day, Rob Ferguson.
There will also be bouncy slides and castles, crafts, dancing, non-profit booths and room on the fields for people to play frisbee or other games.
The Regional District of Nanaimo’s recreation department will once again be on-site facilitating active play for children, including soccer. There are a number of food vendors and there will be some picnic areas set up. A music stage will be set up on the field and the theme “Together We Can” will be bringing music artists of all ages together.
“It’s an intergenerational program where we’re trying to get younger ones playing with more established musicians,” said Ferguson.
Vancouver Island University student Brittany Patterson is the volunteer co-ordinator this year and she said they are still looking for volunteers. She said the event is so popular because it provides such a wide variety of things for local families to enjoy.
“There aren’t very many things around where you can spend the day with your family and it’s all free,” she said.
Visit the website listed above for more information on the event or call 250-738-2198.