Many of Sylvan Lake’s businesses will have stalls on 50th Street when the Stanley Cup arrives next Wednesday.
Colin Fraser of the cup winning Los Angeles Kings, and a Sylvan Lake resident, will arrive by boat with the cup and an RCMP escort and then parade down the pier to a stage on the north end of main street.
The street will be closed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. between 50th Avenue to Lakeshore Drive to accommodate a “Jaywalkers Day” complete with vendors and a festive atmosphere featuring music along with a chance for people to have their pictures taken with the cup.
Fraser will be signing autographs and meeting people during the two hours the cup is present, from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
A mini Farmers’ Market is planned for the south end of the area. Then closer to the stage there are 44 booths available free to businesses with Sylvan Lake business licenses.
The town’s economic development officer, Matt Cornall, said 35 of those stalls had already been booked by Monday afternoon.
Another advantage for Sylvan Lake, Cornall told councillors Monday night, is that the cup won’t be on public display in Red Deer. Following its stay in Sylvan Lake it’s going to the Sutter Fund golf tournament that night and then to Viking the following day. So Red Deer residents who want to see it up close will have to come to our community.
The Bentley Generals will be on hand promoting the fact they’re hosting the Allan Cup next year.