Main Street was packed last Saturday afternoon as hundreds of people took in the annual Wacky Saturday festival — a turnout organizers say was everything they hoped for.
With more activities, rides and appeal than last year’s event, and weather that cooperated, Westlock’s downtown was packed with families enjoying the good time.
“Wacky Saturday is awesome,” said Kirsten Campbell, who brought her kids to enjoy the afternoon. “There are pony rides, a petting zoo, balloons, sidewalk chalk … What more do you need?”
She added that her kids had been looking forward to Wacky Saturday for many weeks, and were none of them were disappointed with what they found.
“It’s way better than I expected,” she said.
Daisy Logan said her kids were also excited about everything there was to see and do, especially the petting zoo and the “whirly ride.” They had attended the event last year, and look forward to coming back for years to come.
“I’m coming back next year,” she said. “As long as they have this, it’s all good.”
Wacky Saturday has a long history in Westlock, having been put on by local businesses for many years. After a few years without, Westlock Family & Community Support Services re-invented and resurrected the festival in 2011 as a family-driven fun afternoon.
“When we initially started this last year, we wanted a good community event so families could come and have fun without spending a fortune,” program coordinator Stephanie Bellows said.
Fourteen FCSS volunteers took part to help on the organizational end of things, with countless other volunteers putting on the different events and attractions, such as the petting zoo, the rides, the dunk tank and a host of others.
The majority of the activities were free of charge, making the fun accessible to everyone. Main Street was blocked off from 107 St. to 104 St., and several community organizations and businesses made appearances.
FCSS director Jayme Baxter said she couldn’t be happier with how this year’s event turned out, drawing crowds she estimated were four times the size of last year’s.
There is no doubt, she added, that the festival will continue next year with more attractions and community participation.
“We’ll keep adding stuff every year,” she said. “Soon we’ll be all the way to Sobeys.”
