Several events are going to be held throughout the Canada Day weekend in the South Cariboo.
Those events include a slo-pitch tournament set to be held at the Lumberman’s Park and Robinson Park by the South Cariboo Rec Centre, a Canada Day event at the 108 Heritage Site, the Bridge Lake Stampede and Canada Day celebrations at the 70 Mile Community Hall.
The Party in the Park slo-pitch tournament is a 16-team knock-off tournament that will be held between June 28 and July 1, with the last day being the championship.
“It’s 16 teams - so you get - it’s five games guaranteed, it’s a three-game round robin, and then it’s a double knockout playoffs,” William Robertson, the event organizer, explains.
Each team will have 15 players - with it amounting to 240 players participating in the event. The proceeds from the 50/50 will be donated to Carter’s Project, an initiative which aims to install air quality monitors throughout British Columbia.
Robertson says that teams from all over British Columbia attend the tournament, which is about “bringing people to the community and raising funds for local charities.”
“We got teams from Prince George, Abbotsford, Squamish, Lilloett, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake,” stated Robertson.
The winners of the tournament will win up to $6,000 as well as an all-inclusive fishing trip provided by Roamer’s Casual Adventures in the South Cariboo.
The 108 Heritage Site is hosting its annual Canada Day Celebration, with the poster promising live entertainment, cupcakes as well as a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Kelly Carnochan, president of the 100 Mile and District Historical Society which manages the 108 Heritage Site, said the event will be commemorating Confederation.
“It is celebrating Canada’s birthday - is mainly what it is,” noted Carnochan.
Carnochan says that there will be festivities, a market with food vendors as well as Uncle Chris the Clown, who will be coming up from Kamloops to provide some live entertainment. The 100 Mile House Car Cruzers Club will also be making a return putting on a mini car show for attendees to enjoy.
Carnochan also notes that the event will feature a presentation of the 2023 Citizen of the Year at 1 p.m.
The silent auction will contain gift certificates as well as children’s picnic tables - while the 50/50’s proceeds will be going straight towards the upkeep of the 108 Heritage Site. Carnochan says that people should attend the event because it is a “great family event.”
“It’s geared towards families with children, and their parents.”
Over at Bridge Lake - on June 29 - the 72nd annual Bridge Lake Stampede will be happening. It will feature a pancake breakfast at 9:30 a.m., alongside main events at noon followed by an outdoor dance.
The main events include bull riding, team roping as well as barrel racing. The event will be taking place on the rodeo grounds.
Jamie Law, president of the Bridge Lake Community Club, states that the event is effectively an amateur rodeo.
“We’ve got all the usual rodeo events - it’s a one day rodeo - we have beer gardens, concessions, vendors, free camping with admission, we have a dance after the rodeo and pancake breakfast (before the rodeo.)”
Law says that hundreds usually show up for the event. The dance will be featuring a DJ this year rather than a live band as in the past. Law notes that people should be attending the Bridge Lake Stampede because it is usually a fun day.
Down in 70 Mile House Canada Day will be commemorated with a celebratory event in 70 Mile Community Hall on July 1 at 11:00 a.m. at the 70 Mile Community Hall, which is located at 2585 North Bonaparte Road. The event will feature an appearance from the 70 Mile Volunteer Fire Department, as well as a chili cook-off, children’s games, BBQ burgers and hot dogs that are available by donation, as well as duck penning - which the poster says is “like team penning only with ducks, on stick horses” - and a tug of war, with a beer garden.
Sally Watson, vice chair of the 70 Mile Community Hall., is taking the lead on organizing the event. She says that the $5 fee will be required to enter the chilli cook-off which will contribute to the cash prizes.
“It will all depend on how many people will enter.”
Watson noted that the hamburgers will be available by donation, to give people a “break.”
“You and your family go out and you have four kids - charging 10 bucks a burger is outrageous.”
Watson says that the event is “exciting” and is usually the biggest the community hall hosts - citing that last year, around 200 hamburgers were given out.
“Last year we had redneck games, which were kind of fun and interesting. And everyone enjoyed that,” said Watson.
The Mountain Spruce Community Centre is hosting a Canada Day BBQ at 4 p.m. The event is a bring-your-own seat and meat, with community members invited to bring food for a potluck.
There will also be music, lawn games and a 50/50 draw with complimentary coffee, hot chocolate and tea. Water and pop is available for $2.
