With the weekly event falling on July 1 this year, the Crossfield Farmer’s Market is hosting a Canada Day bike parade in conjunction with its weekly outdoor market.
Market manager Cheryl Shea said the July 1 bike parade is open to everyone and will include not just decorated bicycles but all types of mobility devices, including strollers, bikes, wagons or mobility scooters.
“We are pretty excited about it,” she said. “Anybody is welcome.”
Having held this type of parade once before, Shea said she is excited to do it again considering the challenges faced in the last year and what everyone has gone through with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Potentially, July 1 is when all restrictions could be off,” she said, referencing a potential start date for Stage 3 of the Alberta government’s reopening plan. “That would be a big celebration as well.”
On Canada Day at 5 p.m., Shea is asking everyone who wants to partake in the bike parade to show up at the outdoor market, which will be held in the parking lot of the Crossfield and District Community Centre.
The market itself runs from 3 to 7 p.m., but at 5 p.m. on July 1, everyone who decided to decorate their bikes, scooters, wagons or other devices in Canada-themed décor can gather to do a loop around the parking lot.
Participants also have a chance to win prizes, according to Shea, who said the prizes will likely be products from the market’s vendors.
Vendors also have a chance to win prizes from the market by giving their booths the ultimate Canada Day makeover.
“They can win a free table booking at the Fall Harvest Market, which takes place Oct. 2,” Shea said.
As the summer moves on, Shea said she is looking forward to a time when no more restrictions are levelled on farmer’s markets. She and the team that put on the Crossfield events have been operating throughout the pandemic, working hard to ensure the market that residents know and love can continue.
“I am really hoping this summer it goes back to business as usual,” she said. “I am working on the fall market and the Christmas market. Not knowing what is going to happen is tough, but we are running with two floor plans to make sure we can proceed.”
Shea added as a farmer’s market is deemed an essential service, she knows the market can keep operating, but she wants to be able to give shoppers the best experience possible.
“The thing that has been the huger silver lining within all of this, is people have really rallied around and understood where their food comes from,” she said. “People are truly supporting local. Supporting local isn’t just a background – it is so pivotal to moving the economy forward.”
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @Jay_Strickz
