Coaldale celebrating its annual Settler Days

Coaldale’s annual Settler Days fair runs this weekend, with the parade set for this morning.

“Settler Days is very popular with the community, especially with young families,” said Cindy Hoffman, the Community Services Manager for the Town of Coaldale.

Settler Days kicked off with evening Movies in the Park and an all-ages community cribbage tournament at the community centre. Today’s events will start with a pancake breakfast before the parade at 11 a.m.

Throughout the day, there will be activities all over town including live entertainment and a wide variety of party and family-friendly activities at Millennium Park.

“The parade route, especially along Main Street, is usually five, six and seven people deep,” Hoffman said. “The best spots are usually staked out well before the parade starts. Kids Fest is a huge draw for our younger community members. The slip and slide will be a huge addition to the Party in the Park this year.”

The first community fair was held back in 1919 to celebrate Coaldale becoming a village and it has evolved tremendously over time. The candy parade was added in 2001 and in 2018, the planning and organization of the event was delegated to the Town after being planned by the Chamber of Commerce.

“As a kid growing up on a farm just outside of Coaldale, I have the best memories of coming to town with my family, meeting up with my friends and having the best day of the year,” Hoffman said. “Many of the businesses of the day along Main Street have changed, but it was and still is so much fun to go into the stores and explore and come out with that special item on parade day. Then it was off to start the day’s adventures. The people, the excitement, the decorations, the activities. Great memories.”

Hoffman said that since this event is a community event, the town’s volunteer community working group was established to assist in the success of the event. The group, Hoffman says, has been working tirelessly over the last few months to build upon the hard work put in by the Chamber of Commerce in previous years and to also help the event evolve.

This year, Settler Days includes a double header Movie Night in the Park, Slip & Slide, Recycle Art, ATCO stage with live bands and entertainment, Kinsmen Family Lounge/Beer Gardens, and the Coaldale Copperheads’ Cabaret.

“We are hoping that by combining some of the wellestablished activities with a few new ideas, everyone will have a wonderful day celebrating Coaldale and area,” Hoffman said. “I think having a special day or two each year that brings out the entire community is so important. Everyone feels welcome and it’s a great way to meet new people and reconnect with neighbors and friends. It’s a day to just forget about everything else and focus on having fun with family and friends.”