Pat Dower looked like a proud new dad on Sunday afternoon.
The Kinsmen’s Rainmaker Rodeo was a huge success. Dower and his hard-working crew had just posed for the group picture in the middle of the ring and he was leading them out when the water hit him. It wasn’t the huge bucket of water that coaches get dunked with, but there was enough water from the several bottles to cool off Dower and leave him with a shirt so wet he could have told anyone he was sweating from all the hard work he’s been doing.
Dower, in his first year as chairman of the rodeo, and all the Kinsmen deserve a pat on the back for another fine event, from Friday’s rock concert and Saturday’s country concert, to the midway and, ultimately, the rodeo itself.
Attendance was up about 25 per cent on an ideal weekend, weather-wise. Not even a chance of rain. That was the reward for all the hard work put in by Dower and his crew.
One can be reasonably sure that nowhere, at no time were these words heard:
“Mom, I’m bored.”
“Dad, there’s nothing to do.”
Two common refrains heard from youngsters, from preschoolers through teenagers. And sometimes they’re right, there just isn’t anything for them to do that would be either fun or interesting to them.
That is certainly not the case at the Rainmaker and it shouldn’t be anywhere around St. Albert these days.
People were having fun all weekend, and the crowds were big, from the Gazette’s Saturday morning pancake breakfast that was a huge hit and the parade that drew good crowds along most of the route. Even the carnies at the midway got into the mood, letting the kids take second, third, fourth, even fifth runs through some of the rides and activities.
If rodeo wasn’t your thing there was the show and shine car show.
With the rodeo wrapped up, now it’s into the Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival that began Tuesday and runs through Saturday.
“Warning: too much fun,” it cautions and each year that proves to be the case with its vast variety of plays, activities and roving artists.
If you don’t have youngsters at home or they’re not into the theatre, there’s also tons of other activities around St. Albert in the coming days and weeks. For example, the Old West exhibit at MusĂ©e HĂ©ritage Museum, the botanic park rose sale June 1-3, the walk to cure juvenile diabetes June 3, the Relay for Life June 9 and Kids of Steel triathlon June 10.
If you’re into watching sports, well you’re in heaven. Forget sitting at home watching the Stanley Cup playoffs on television – get out and support the local youth. There’s tons of sports in town this week, from baseball to lacrosse, soccer, rugby and football.
On top of all those activities, the city is well known for the Red Willow Trails, which offer a chance to get out and walk or bike.
No, there couldn’t possibly be a reason why anyone, from three-year-olds to grandparents, would be bored in St. Albert these days.
