The cold and wet weather was a bit of a letdown for Canada's 145th Birthday celebrations last weekend in Kitimat. However, a little rain didn't prevent hundreds of people from participating in the wide array of festivities.
"Overall I think the weekend was good, the rain and the cold weather put a little damper on it though so there was not as many people as we would have liked, but it still went well," said Festivals Kitimat Co-ordinator Cheri DeMelo.
The weekend events kicked off with Saturday's Hill Climb drag races, and the fans were treated to gorgeous day. Later that evening, the Hill Climb Dance saw the River Valley Rats play to a packed house at the Riverlodge Community Room. The Kitimat musicians put on a stellar performance.
Murphy's law was in effect this weekend, as both Saturday and Monday were gorgeous days which book-ended a miserable July 1. The dreary weather arrived on Sunday for the parade and other Canada day festivities.
"It was sunny the day before which allowed the hill climb to go and it was sunny a day after, it just didn't want to come out for us on the actual day," said DeMelo.
Sunday evening's Stage Show featuring some terrific live entertainment followed by a spectacular fireworks display. The one minor change to this years festivities was selling glow in the toys to the youth, which was a major hit.
"There were no real changes from past years but we did sell glow in the dark toys like head-boppers and stuff like thatt. The kids really enjoyed them near the end of the night with the fireworks," said DeMelo. "We had a good a great band and it was an awesome job with the fireworks."
Next up on the Festivals Kitimat agenda is Saturday's Dragon Boat Regatta which kicks off at noon at the Minette Bay Marina. Shuttle buses will be leaving regularly from Christ the King Catholic Church.