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Langdon Days celebration moved to August

Langdon’s annual three-day weekend festival in July has been postponed until the end of summer, in the hopes that eased public health restrictions will allow for a full range of festivities by then.

Langdon’s annual three-day weekend festival in July has been postponed until the end of summer, in the hopes that eased public health restrictions will allow for a full range of festivities by then.

According to Chrissy Craig, the chair of the Langdon Community Association, by moving the festival back to the weekend of Aug. 20 to 22, the association hopes to provide the full gamut of activities for Langdonites, including a parade, beer gardens and baseball tournaments.

“One of the greatest things about [Langdon Days] is it brings everybody out and celebrating together,” she said. “There’s so many different activities that really make a community thrive.”

The decision to postpone the yearly event follows the Alberta government’s recent announcement of its three-stage reopening plan to lift public health restrictions in time for summer. While the reopening plan is dependent on the percentage of administered vaccines and a decrease in hospitalization rates across the province, it could result in Alberta being restriction-free by late June or early July.

Since its inauguration in 1945, Langdon Days has been held the weekend after the Calgary Stampede. Craig said that by pushing the date to the end of summer, there will be a higher chance of being able to hold a traditional Langdon Days without any restrictions.

Last year’s iteration was cancelled due to the onset of the pandemic. And after more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions, Craig said she is eager to bring the community together once again.

“[Langdon Days] makes you feel like you’re a part of something,” she said. “In a community, you go to work, you come home, you may know a couple of your neighbours. But when you are part of a bigger event, it’s like ‘Oh, these are all my neighbours!’ and you get to know different people in the town.”

Chrissy added the annual shindig is great for Langdon’s newcomers, as it provides them a chance to get to know other members of the hamlet.

“…they come and they meet different people or they play ball or do different things and you get to see a whole range – and also you get to celebrate living in an amazing community,” she said.

Funds raised from the event will go toward the Langdon Community Association to help support the development and maintenance of recreational facilities within the hamlet. Additional activities offered at the festival include a pancake breakfast, kids carnivals and shows, food trucks and a market.

Craig said the yearly event is open to anyone interested in attending from across the province. She added she is especially eager for the Langdon Days parade, where candy is typically thrown out from floats to all the kids in attendance.

“The kids are so excited, you get to see your neighbour up on a float, and the firetruck comes and sprays everybody down,” she said.

Anyone with questions regarding Langdon Days or who would like additional information is asked to contact [email protected]

Carmen Cundy, AirdrieToday.com  

Follow me on Twitter @carmenrcundy  

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