The Bragg Creek community is gearing up to close out the Calgary Stampede in the same way it has for more than 50 years – with the 51st Annual Bragg Creek Days, which runs July 21 and 22 in the hamlet. “We’re a very small community, and I think we’re pretty tight-knit,” said Christine Pollard, chair of the event’s organizational committee. “It wasn’t even 50 years ago that we didn’t have sidewalks – we were just a post office, a gas station and a switchboard. But this is a way for us to bring the community together and celebrate that history.” The festival, which is traditionally hosted the weekend after the Calgary Stampede, kicks off July 21 with a pancake breakfast courtesy of the Redwood Meadows Volunteer Fire Department, Pollard said. “That will be followed by our 51st annual parade, generally filled with local businesses and community groups,” she said. “Then, we’ve got live entertainment on the stampede stage, homemade midway games for kids, a marketplace, and some food vendors.” New this year, Pollard added, will be a tie-dye station, where kids and adults can create their own t-shirts. And, if the afternoon heat gets to be too much for little ones, the ATB Kids’ Zone will be held inside the air-conditioned community centre, offering a spot to cool down while still having a good time. For the fifth year in a row, according to Pollard, Bragg Creek Days has partnered with Ride for Sight – an organization of motorcycle enthusiasts united against vision loss. On July 22, she said, Ride for Sight will provide a variety of events and activities for participants of all ages to enjoy. “Sunday is mostly their day – they will come out and do a poker rally, a show and shine, and some fun bike games and competitions for people to watch,” she said. “Again, we’ll have our beer garden and live entertainment running all day that day, as well.” According to Pollard, the line-up features a range of talented locals – keeping with the festival’s community roots. But, she said, although the event is a celebration of the hamlet and all it offers, residents of surrounding areas are encouraged to come out. “It’s certainly inclusive,” she said. “Bragg Creek is a tourist area – it’s a lovely place to come out to. We have fantastic trails for hiking and biking, a provincial park right here, and there’s a lot to experience. Not only can people enjoy our annual festival, there’s also all the wonderful shops and restaurants in the hamlet that tourists can check out. It’s a great opportunity to come out and make a day of it.” In the 51 years the hamlet has hosted Bragg Creek Days, Pollard said the event has grown and changed. While some years see a decline in attendance, others see hundreds of people flocking out to the community for a weekend of fun. This year, Pollard said, she anticipates upwards of 800 people. “There’s always a ton of people that know about the festival and put it on their calendar to come out yearly,” she said. “It’s an amazing way for people in our community, and from the surrounding communities, to come together. Visit with your neighbours, enjoy some entertainment and games and experience what Bragg Creek has to offer.” For more information and for a full schedule of events, visit braggcreekca.com
