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Rain didn’t impede 1913 Days festivities

Sylvan Lake had great fun at 1913 Days activties, despite the weather.
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DANCING PROWESS - A number of talented aboriginal dancers performed at a First Nations Dance Theatre event held at the NexSource Centre instead of Centennial Park, to avoid Saturday’s wet weather. Photo by Sam Macdonald/Sylvan Lake News

Although this past weekend’s wet weather posed an obstacle for 1913 Days, the rainy conditions didn’t dampen the spirits of the residents Sylvan Lake. The town was a bustling place, with residents getting out in significant numbers to visit all the other events associated with the celebration.

Friday’s windy cold, mercurial weather forced the Street Fair indoors at the NexSource Centre, and steady rainfall throughout Saturday morning and afternoon forced the Town’s hand, causing the parade to be cancelled.

However, numerous community groups hosted a multiplicity of indoor events during the day, with many guests braving the rain to enjoy all Sylvan Lake had to offer.

A cake auction and garage sale at the Sylvan Lake Community Partners Association brought people in out of the rain. Some volunteers even braved the ugly weather under a small awning, providing a small barbecue for guests. Guests perused the garage sale, seeing what they could pick up from the miscellany of items available, and had the opportunity to bet big bucks on some fancily made cakes later in the afternoon.

A number of young musicians were unable to perform outside, but were undeterred by the rain, hosting their Year End Concert for House of Music at Timber Coffee throughout the afternoon.

The talented young musicians playing on Saturday put the skills they’ve cultivated over the last several months on display, in band, vocal and solo instrumental performances throughout the morning and afternoon to a room packed with guests.

“The event was packed,” wrote Megan Epp, owner/instructor of Sylvan Lake House of Music, in an email to the Sylvan Lake News. “It was our first time playing at Timber/Incline, and the general response was that everyone loved it. The coffee shop said they did really well for sales that day, too.”

Epp described how their concert usually takes place at the pier, but the weather impeded their ability carry on with that tradition, this year. She added that students have been practicing for the concert since around January.

Also that afternoon, the NexSource Centre ended up playing host to a second event on Saturday, with the First Nations Dance Theatre taking place on Saturday afternoon and bringing out an enthusiastic crowd.

The event - put on by Wandering Spirit Native Awareness Ltd - featured a series of dinstinct styles of aboriginal dance, by people in full regalia, showcasing several styles of dancing practiced by performers from several First Nations.

“It was a nice. Despite the rain and everything, it was quite a good turnout,” said Jackie Soppit, Founder and Director of Wandering Spirit, in a call with the Sylvan Lake News.

Soppit admitted she was disappointed by the rain preventing herself and the rest of the crew with Wandering Spirit Native Awareness she brought with her from participating in the parade - but said being able to put on the performance at the NexSource Centre was also quite fun for them.

At one point during the dance theatre, guests went from spectators to participants, and were encouraged to join in on the dancing themselves. Those who joined in were given hoops and led by Soppit, who gave them a crash course in the basics of that particular style of dancing.

“We don’t normally go [to Sylvan Lake], but in the future we’d definitely look forward to doing something like that again, or expanding our show,” said Soppit. “It was a great turnout and I would love to be able to share more of our culture with Sylvan Lake.”

samuel.macdonald@sylvanlakenews.com

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PANCAKE BREAKFAST - Scott Slimmon, Ramie Tucker and Kyle Burgess kept busy prepping pancake and other breakfast delicacies on Saturday, as part of the many local activities happening during 1913 Days. Photo by Sam Macdonald/Sylvan Lake News
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CAKE AUCTION - Madii Morin displays one of the many delicious cakes available at the cake auction held on Saturday, during 1913 Days. PHOTO BY SAM MACDONALD
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MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB - Arianna Jankuta was one of the many young musicians who showcased their talent at Timber Coffee on Saturday, during a year-end concert for students at House of Music. Jankuta wowed the audience with her ukulele solo performance of Mary Had a Little Lamb. PHOTO BY SAM MACDONALD