At any other time, Saturday, June 4, would merely mark a busy weekend in Westlock, with the Red Lions set to host a ball tournament, the Gators set to put on a swim meet and the Canadian Tractor Museum hosting its annual show.
With the recent addition of Wacky Saturday — an all-day line-up of games and other activities hosted in the downtown area — it promises to be one of the busiest weekends of 2011 for the community.
Co-hosted between the Town of Westlock and Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), Wacky Saturday will be held along Main Street in the downtown area, which will be shut down from 104 Street to 107 Street.
"Our goal is to get families out to the downtown and to explore the community,” said Jayme Baxter, executive director of FCSS in Westlock.
Originally more of a business promotion, Wacky Saturday has not been held in Westlock for more than a decade, according to Vivian Zittlaw, tourism and economic development co-ordinator for the town.
It was decided to revive the event as a way of bringing the people of Westlock together, as Zittlaw noted that the name "Wacky Saturday” is still familiar to a lot of residents.
The list of attractions hosted as part of Wacky Saturday includes a "Minute to Win It” game, rickshaw rides led by the high school football team, a petting zoo, a beer garden, a street hockey tournament, dunk tank, balloon house and an animal adoption event hosted by the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS).
There will also be two stages set up downtown; one will be for karaoke singers and the other will feature live entertainment, such as the band The Nighthawks.
A street dance starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 10:30 p.m. finishes off the day.
There is no cost for attending Wacky Saturday aside from whatever you decide to purchase at the event, which is being funded through a mix of sponsorships and some funding FCSS had set aside for community events.
"It's going to be amazing,” says Baxter.
