Locals say that it's the kind of fun that they just can't have once - they need to keep doing it year after year after year. They've been doing it for almost half a century by this point.
The 49th annual Fête au Village is the party in the village this weekend and everyone is invited. Organizers are thrilled to use the festivities as a chance to make a few new friends from outside the town itself, but they say that it is primarily for all of the people of Legal, whether they still live there or not.
"My feeling of it is that it's a homecoming. Lots of people who have lived here in the past, or who have grown up here and moved away, plan to come home on that weekend."
Those are the words of Lisa Magera, the event's main co-ordinator. She has been in charge of things for several years now and has seen the fête grow and grow. These days, it is such a colossal affair that sees the community of 1,200 swell by about 3,000 extra visitors, if only for two or three days out of the year. It has grown a lot over the last several years as well.
"It's just our big town fair. It's just to celebrate our community!"
A community worth celebrating
"I've lived here my whole life and, ever since I was a kid, it's been an event that my family's always looked forward to in the summer," explained Legal Mayor Albert St. Jean.
There is a lot of reason for the town's residents, past and present, to feel so strongly for their connection to the cultural centre, especially on the occasion of the town's birthday. Legal takes pride in its strong French roots. That's why everything is bilingual and with such a strong visual representation of its cultural history.
Legal is known as the National Capital of French Murals for a very good reason. There are currently almost 40 public murals that have been installed, all depicting the history of the area, and more are on the way.
For Magera, putting the town on a pedestal has been in her blood for a long time.
"For a long time when I was younger, my mom was the chairperson of the committee. It's just something that I've always been a part of."
In fact, the concept of family is something that is of special significance to the town. The fête's theme is "Families growing our community."
It just makes sense to St. Jean that the focus is on such indelible relationships.
"Well, there's a lot of us that are all related to each other, so it is kind of like a big family!"
Now, Magera is also on town council, but still pays particular attention to the fine details of making sure the fête runs smoothly.
"We have a really vibrant community spirit here, and the whole event is run by volunteers."
Friday fête fun
The first evening of the event is meant to focus on all-ages activities. It will feature a mini parade on Main Street.
"That's for the kids only," Magera instructed. "They can dress up or decorate their bikes. You would be amazed to see how many people come out to watch them."
That's followed by a baseball tournament at Citadel Park. That is also the site for the chili cook-off contest and the tug of war. Certainly many will be seriously considering the potential ramifications of eating too much spicy beef and beans before strenuously working the abdominal muscles by pulling hard on a rope. The results could be first delicious and then utterly disastrous.
Saturday chock-full
Saturday starts off with the traditional pancake breakfast, followed by the return of the popular Fun Run. Participants can also walk or ride their bicycles, scooters, strollers and wheelchairs along the three- or five-kilometre loop. Legal is known for having a gorgeous trail system that extends through parks, across bridges, along a creek and around a naturalized pond. Registration is $15.
After that early exercise, everyone will certainly be gathered along Main Street for the big parade that really kicks things off and pulls on the heartstrings.
"When I hear the pipe bands start," Magera revealed, "it sends little butterflies and I get excited!"
There's a quarter carnival for the kids at the arena with a magic show, pony rides and petting zoo at the park afterward. While you are there, take a shot at the dunk tank. You never know who's got the hot seat for a cold soak.
St. Jean has been one such dunkee. When asked if the water is cold, he replied, "Oh yeah!" with a hearty laugh. "It takes your breath away!"
The demolition derby starts at the demo pit at Citadel Park at 2:30 p.m. It is the reason why so many people keep showing up every 365 days.
"That is the big event. That's what brings 3,000 people," Magera said.
She went on to explain the intricate details of what makes this event such a crowd-pleaser.
"There's a bunch of cars smashing each other up in a pit full of dirt," she exclaimed.
Local farmer Nick Zilinski used to be one of the many people in the crowd watching the spectacle. The 21-year-old said that, once he got a taste of being behind the wheel, he just knew that the driver's seat is where he'd rather be.
"I decided that, once you go in, I'd never watch it again. It's just so much fun!"
He added that, while he's having the time of his life, he's also a fierce competitor.
"I'm going in to win!"
The main entertainment runs from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. with music by Oil City Sound Machine and The Wavelength, among others. Fireworks will take place at dusk.
The Fête au Village runs Friday and Saturday. The admission for adults is $3, but kids 12 and under get in for free.
Legal is located about 37 kilometres north of St. Albert on Highway 2 and east on Secondary Highway 651.
For more information or to download a schedule of events (in English or French), call the town office at 780-961-3773 or visit www.town.legal.ab.ca.
