Well prepared
News
Posted 1 month ago
Josh Chalmers
Special to the Standard
With large scale events come preparations. For the 2010 Strathmore Heritage Days those preparations are well underway.
The event happens from Friday, July 30 to Monday, Aug. 2 with a sneak-a-peek on Thursday, July 29, with the majority of set-up happening on the Monday to Wednesday prior to the event.
"Things are going really well, we're ahead of schedule on some of our little things that we needed to do," said Cori Bowhay of the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society, which puts on the yearly event.
Bowhay said that they have already begun preparing the Encana Stage, the rodeo infield and chuckwagon track.
The Encana Stage will host several acts over five days, headlined by Vancouver artist Jordan Doell, Six West Band and Julian Austin.
The rodeo and chuckwagons will go every day, with the rodeo starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 1 p.m. from Saturday to Monday.
The chuckwagons will start right after the rodeo on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. on the weekend and will start following the running of the bulls on Monday.
With sneak-a-peek making a return for the first time in a while Bowhay said that organizers actually get more time to set things up and make sure they're running properly.
"Sneak-a-peek doesn't start until 3 p.m. so we have lots of time on Thursday to get everything ready," said Bowhay.
Bowhay also said that organizers are always looking for volunteers. For this year they are particularly looking for parking volunteers for the event but could use anybody who is willing to lend a hand.
She said the event is highly volunteer driven with six to 12 paid staff in the office and the rest are volunteers, including individual committee heads.
"We have lots of people who come back year after year," said Bowhay. "We couldn't do it without our volunteers, they are a key part of making Heritage Days work."
Volunteers for the event get free admission to the grounds for the day that they work and can watch either the rodeo or the chuckwagons. They also get a free meal at the Tim Hortons at the volunteer bunkhouse.
For more information on Heritage Days or to volunteer contact the Strathmore and District Agriculture Society.
