Float at previous parade. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Looking for float entries

Town of Battleford starts to make plans for annual parade, fireworks

May 2, 2023 | 8:00 AM

The Town of Battleford is beginning to make some early plans for its 38th annual parade.

As discussed at council’s meeting Monday, the event will take place starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 11.

The parade will start and finish at the track behind St. Vital School. Pre-registered entries will be judged between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. If anyone wants their entry to be judged, they will need to be there by 5:30 p.m. The deadline for all entries is Aug. 7.

Deputy Mayor Alexis Christensen said the town administration is already doing the call out for any groups interested in having their floats participate in the parade. People are asked to contact the town’s Parks and Recreation office to register their entries.

“Make sure to get hold of them,” she said.

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Town Parks and Recreation Manager Jordan Schechtel mnetioned in his submitted report that roads will be closed from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the following locations for the parade:

Fourth Avenue West, from 25 Street to 23 Street; Third Avenue West, from 24 Street to 22 Street; 22 Street West, from Third Avenue to First Avenue; First Avenue, from 22 Street to 25 Street; and 25 Street West, from First Avenue to Fourth Avenue.

The town is reminding people that for safety reasons, people must not throw any items, whether it’s candy or anything else, from floats or vehicles. The items may be handed out – not thrown – by people walking along the parade route. However, in order to keep the parade moving smoothly, people are asked not to stop their entry for prolonged periods of time while on the parade route.

The parade with start at the track behind St. Vital School (Third Avenue and 25 Street), then travel down Third Avenue. It will turn left on 22 Street to First Avenue. Then, it will turn left on First Avenue to 25 Street. From there, it will continue along 25 Street, straight back to the track at Third Avenue again where the parade commenced.

Meanwhile, the town also plans to hold its annual fireworks display after the parade, at about 10 p.m., at the field west of Fort Battleford, between Central Avenue and First Avenue.

Following council’s meeting, Christensen noted it will be exciting to have the parade back again this summer. The parade was a big draw last summer in 2022, after previously taking two years off, due to pandemic restrictions. Christensen anticipated this summer’s parade would be well received again.

“The streets [will be] lined with people of all ages, coming from everywhere. And we’ll have lots of our First Nation communities join in, lots of the service clubs and businesses,” she said. “It’s always a really good night. It’s something I always look forward to, being part of the community.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow