Canada Day celebrations will abound this weekend across Chatham-Kent -- but the party is getting started a little bit early in Ridgetown.
Residents there will be treated to an early Canada Day Parade, which is set to start at 6:30pm on Thursday.
Parade co-chair John Button says organizers put a lot of thought into how they could get the best turnout.
"Some people thought perhaps we were starting a little bit early, but the vast majority of the people on the committee thought it was a very good idea to get a jump-start on the weekend," says Button. "A lot of people will be holidaying on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and we want to catch them while they are home."
The decision to jump the gun on the celebrations appears to be paying off, too. Button says they're expecting a very good turnout for the parade.
"So far we have 150+ registrants and I suspect, the way registrations are coming in, we will probably have 200 participants in the parade," says Button. "Ridgetown hasn't seen that in a long, long time."
The parade is expected to reflect the arts, history, and Ridgetown's agricultural roots. There will be live bands, a lot of antique cars, floats, farm equipment, and horses bringing up the rear end.
After the parade is over, the party continues with Canada Day entertainment at the Ridgetown Fair Grounds. There will be live music, the Ridgetown Girls Chorus will be performing, and officials will be unveiling the Canada 150 Barn Quilt.
Then, at about 10pm, there will be a fireworks show, which Button says was put together by the Orford Fire Department.
The celebrations don't stop there, either.
The Legion Branch #234 in Ridgetown will celebrate Canada Day on July 1 at 6pm with two local bands, a cash bar, and some food.
Participants must be at least 19 years old to enter.
Then on Sunday at 5pm, Emmanuel Congregational Church on Erie St. N in Ridgetown will be hosting a family Hog Roast Dinner with entertainment for the kids. After the dinner, a southern gospel group will be performing.
Tickets are $20 for supper and the concert is free and anyone who is interested in watching the concert should bring a lawn chair.
