Canada Day in the Interlakes will be busy this July 1st.
With events for everyone, locals and tourists, families and individuals and cowboys, those headed out along Highway 24 have no shortage of options to chose from.
Bridge Lake Stampede
The Bridge Lake Stampede is celebrating their 68th year this year.
With all the main rodeo events, including bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing and more, cowboys and cowgirls will need to hold onto their hats.
The rodeo this year is being held in memory of Bill Cunningham, a long-time stock provider and contestant.
Unique to the Bridge Lake Rodeo is a tug-of-war competition. Contestants will be able to sign up teams the day of the event and will compete in sets throughout the day.
The main rodeo event starts at noon at the Bridge Lake Stampede Grounds just off Highway 24, with slacks beginning at 9 a.m. Tickets come with free camping and cost $5 for children over 5, $10 for seniors and $15 for adults.
After the rodeo, live entertainment will be provided into the evening.
IVFD Garage Sale
Shoppers beware. The Interlakes Volunteer Fire Department is having their annual garage sale at the #2 Fire Hall on Highway 24, near the Interlakes Community Centre.
The sale is the IVFD’s main fundraiser of the year and organizers promise it will include all sorts of items from household supplies to garden tools.
“You name it, we have it,” says Bill Versluis.
Those on the lookout for a deal will have to beware the tasty treats at the bake sale portion of the fundraiser as well.
The garage sale will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Interlakes Family Fun Day
The Interlakes Economics Association is hosting a Canada Day Family Fun Day with inflatable toys, music and games at the Interlakes Service Centre from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
With a bouncy castle, a bungee race and a super bouncy slide, arts, culture and events co-ordinator Shelly Durand says it’s “definitely family friendly with something for everybody to do.”
Children will be well served by the face painting and colouring table, while adults can let loose and compete in the sumo wrestling challenge later in the evening. A sand sculpting event will also be featured at the event.
Starting at 7 p.m. the Yale Country Jug Band, a jug and washboard band as the name suggests, out of Kamloops will kick off the Music in the Lakes program for the summer.
Food will be available on-site from Summit Creek Sausage, as well as Teen Space, so Durand hopes families will come for dinner and stay into the evening.
“It’s for all of our local people, but tourists as well,” she says.
Mountain Spruce Community BBQ
The Mountain Spruce Community Centre will be hosting a BBQ for families and friends of the Deka, Sulphurous, Hathaway and Higgins Lakes community starting at 4 p.m. on July 1.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own meat and something to share for a potluck style event.
While organizer Siana Kelly says they’re still on the lookout for a couple of extra BBQs to help with the cooking, the event will be held outside at the centre located at 75781 Petty John Rd. on Sulphurous Lake.
Activities for families will be set up alongside the food.
“It’s pretty much a community BBQ. We are celebrating Canada Day and everybody in the community is invited,” she says.