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Sam Steele Days and the thousands involved
Cranbrook’s biggest annual community celebration is almost upon us and a small army of volunteers is mobilizing.
Additionally, city merchants, restaurateurs and hoteliers are bracing for an even larger army of visitors – many coming for the annual baseball and soccer tourneys that run in conjunction with Sam Steele Days, June 18 to 21.
Recently, Sam Steele Society board chair Christy Wheeldon shared some facts and figures surrounding the bustling annual event.
Volunteers: over 800
Events: over 60
Parade watchers: 10,000ish
Parade entries: over 50
Youth soccer teams: over 60, average roster 15 kids (900 estimated; numbers don’t include parents, coaches, family etc.)
Baseball teams: over 70, average roster 13 (910 people est.; numbers don’t include spouses, friends, children etc.)
So hold onto your hats folks – here comes Sam Steele Days 2015.
The four-day festival launches Thursday morning (June 18) with the Tamarack Centre Kick Off Pancake Breakfast from 8 until 11 a.m. Enjoy specialty pancakes with fruit sauces and whipped cream, farmers sausage, coffee, tea and juice.
If you can’t make it for breakfast, then give lunch a whirl with the Cranbrook Kick Off BBQ, sponsored and hosted by the Cranbrook Public Library at 1212-2nd St. N.
Indulge in barbecued delights between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. All donations support the Cranbrook Public Library’s endowment fund to create new programming for our community.
That is just two of the 60 events scheduled Thursday to Monday.
Please check out the full schedule of events HERE.
This year marks a landmark celebration – 50 years with Cranbrook’s Sam Steele Sweetheart Youth Ambassador program.
It’s a busy weekend for the program, beginning with the Sweetheart Youth Ambassador Pageant June 19, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Key City Theatre. The next day, the newly crowned Sweetheart and Princess and the rest of the girls take to the city’s float and join hundreds of others in the Kootenay’s biggest parade on Saturday morning (10:30 a.m. to noon).
From 1 to 4 p.m. is Miss Melodie’s Sam Steele Chautauqua. Sweethearts will be on hand to seat guests at the Studio Stage Door.
The Youth Ambassador program participants then head to Colombo Lodge (2550-8th Ave.) for the annual Sweetheart Banquet and Ball.
Finally, the weekend concludes for the youth ambassadors with the Dress Up Tea Party at Rotary Park.
Young ladies 12 and under are invited to don their best Princess Dress Up clothes to have “tea” (lemonade) in beautiful china tea cups with the equally beautiful Sweethearts of Sam Steele. The event is free but donations of money or non-perishable food is gratefully accepted.
Lead image: Sam Steele Society and Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce staff and members gathered at The Heidout Thursday, June 11 to launch this year’s fun. A specially made beer courtesy of The Heidout was unveiled as moustached participants took ‘selfies’ with Sam Steele, enjoyed some snacks and got the low down on what’s happening at this year’s Sam Steele Days. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
For more check out the Sam Steele Days Facebook Page.
e-KNOW
