Take a bow Sparwood.

That was a helluva Coal Miner Days!

The largest crowds in years attended the largest Coal Miner Days festival in years last weekend in Sparwood.

Aided by favourable weather and new organizational energy, the June 9 to 15 community celebration re-established Coal Miner Days as one of the premiere summer festivals in the East Kootenay.

District of Sparwood Mayor David Wilks raved about the seven-day festival on social media following Saturday’s (June 14) well-attended festivities.

“Mayor and council for the District of Sparwood are so exceptionally proud of our community today. Sparwood Coal Miner Days Society knocked it out of the park today. The parade was the biggest I have been a part of in over 20 years. Estimates of over 2,000 people watched the parade. The amount of vendors and food providers was exceptional again more than I have seen in over 20 years. To see so many people down at the recreation center enjoying everything that was offered today was mind blowing.

“Thank you to every volunteer who has made this event the show case of the Elk Valley. Thank you to every business who donated their time or money to make this such a great event.

“A special thank you to Marcia Kearl Johnson, President of the Coal Miners Society and Paulette Rosler, events co-ordinator for pulling this all together.

“I can’t wait to see what next year brings.”

Please enjoy some images from the 2025 Coal Miner Days Parade and fairground fun on Saturday, June 14.

Lead image: The foam spraying float near the end of the Coal Miner Days Parade made for a colourful (almost) finale. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photos

e-KNOW

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