Provincial parks Saskatchewan Day celebrations

This weekend, Sask Parks has a variety of special events and programs lined up throughout the province for families of all ages to enjoy.

“Spending time in a provincial park over Saskatchewan Day weekend is the perfect way to celebrate our beautiful province,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Gene Makowsky said. “Summer in Saskatchewan is short, so we want to encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy nature while they still can.”

Terrance Littletent, a talented grass and hoop dancer from Saskatchewan continues his provincial parks tour this weekend with performances in Duck Mountain, Echo Valley and Rowan’s Ravine on Aug 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. Terrance shares his gift of dance, song and narrative through his captivating performances.

This weekend is also a great opportunity for park visitors to try out Sask Parks’ new Survival Series program, a fun and educational program designed to help visitors explore parks and learn survival skills.

With six different modules, participants can learn key survival techniques, fire safety, navigation, animal awareness, how to build an emergency shelter and how to identify edible and medicinal plants in the parks. Other special events include:

• Get Outdoors – Echo Valley – Aug 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – try a variety of exciting outdoor activities with local vendors

• Saskatchewan Day celebrations – Great Blue Heron and Candle Lake – enjoy face painting, a bike parade, cake, games and a sandcastle contest

• Knockerball ($10-$20), pancake breakfast and night mini golf – Good Spirit Lake – Aug 3

• Midnight Swim ($2) – Pike Lake – Aug 3 at 10 p.m. – swim under the stars in the heated pool

• Fireworks – Duck Mountain – Aug 4 – take in this annual August long weekend fireworks display

• Saskatchewan Arts Day – Meadow Lake – Aug 4 – enjoy face painting, cake, and make your own clay owl ($10)

• Cannington Manor Annual Fair – Aug 4 – horse drawn wagon rides, hand-churned ice cream, rope making and more

For a full list of programs and events offered in provincial parks, visit www.saskparks.com, select your park from the drop down menu and use the events tab to browse.

Park visitors are encouraged to share their photos on social media using #saskparks for a chance to be featured on Sask Parks website and social platforms.