MELFORT — The City of Melfort is planning this year’s fireworks show to be the biggest the city has organized in its history.
“We’ll have more fireworks than last year and we’re probably going to co-ordinate the presentation of those fireworks so it’s probably going to last a little bit longer than last year’s event,” said Brent Lutz, Melfort’s director of development, planning and community relations.
“So in every way we’re expecting the fireworks display to be as every bit as good or better as last year’s.”
There will be additional events throughout the day including an artisan walk.
The day’s events will start with the Melfort and District Legion flag raising ceremony at the Memorial Gardens on Main Street at 11 a.m.
Following this, from noon until 6 p.m., local artists will be featuring their work with lawn displays and demonstrations throughout the city as part of an “Art in the City” artisan walk.
Lutz said this is building off of last year’s quilt parade.
“Last year we had a quilt parade. We prepared a map and people displayed their quilts throughout the community. That too was a very successful event so we’ve expanded on it as well and this year we’re opening it up to all types of art and other creations.”
Anyone interested in displaying their creations the city is encouraged to register to be included on the Art in the City map at https://forms.gle/bz2FprThTXd2WnVr8. The deadline is June 25, to allow time for the maps to be created.
For artists who don’t live in Melfort, the city will be using Spruce Haven Park’s creative circle area to show their work.
From 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. the Melfort Kinettes will be hosting a Drive-in Bingo at the Melfort Ag Society.
This will lead up to the evening's big events.
Beginning at 8:30 p.m., a drive-in concert will be at the Stone Gate Shopping Centre – featuring live music by Saskatchewan Country Music Association nominated group The Tucker Lane Band.
“We thought with people being there this would be a nice way to not only fill that time, but also attract people that maybe didn’t want to come just for the fireworks,” Lutz said.
At dusk the fireworks show will begin.
The concert and fireworks display is free and open for as many vehicles as can fit on-site. Public Health Orders are expected to be obeyed.
Lutz estimated last year they had about 400 cars with room to spare.
“The biggest part of this work was being able to find the necessary funding to be able to bring in some of these really exceptional entertainment opportunities: fireworks of course and the band,” Lutz said. “We could not speak highly enough about the response we had in the business community when we asked to help put on an event like this.”
