Take in an event or two

OUR EDITORIAL: WHAT WE THINK

It’s officially summer in Lethbridge. So, how many events can you fit in to one weekend?

Area residents can try to test that during the next few days in the city with Pride Fest at Galt Gardens, the annual dragonboat festival at Henderson Lake, the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open, and the wrap up of National Indigenous Peoples Week.

On Saturday, hundreds are anticipated to participate in this year’s Pride Parade, running from city hall to Galt Gardens. Pride in the Park will then take over there with performers, food trucks, and a beer garden. The events are free and open to all.

A few kilometres away at Henderson Lake, 70 teams from across the province and beyond will compete for dragonboat glory. Thousands will attend to watch, as well as to experience live entertainment and a beer garden. Again, access is open and free to the general public.

Down in the river valley, 156 professional golfers are playing for a $36,000 cut of the $200,000 total purse at the MacKenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada’s inaugural Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open, which runs until Sunday at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort.

Any one of those events would normally headline most weekends on their own. But, in Lethbridge they can all run concurrently thanks to hundreds of volunteers, as well as City financial backing — and the thousands who will attend.

Regardless of the opinion of some who would rather not spend any money on anything, all of those factors are really a testament to the strength of the community to both host and attend all of these events.

More and more events will look to come to Lethbridge when other organizers see success and attendance. That benefits everybody in the city.

Kudos to all of the people who have donated their time to help get involved with these high-profile events in the city. Let’s hope the weather co-operates and that people remain safe.

And, to those who say “there’s nothing to do in Lethbridge”: you need to get out more. Go check out one or all of these great events.

This city will have more than plenty to offer this weekend to everybody under the summer sun.

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