The route of the Battleford parade will be changed up this year. It will begin and end at Fort Battleford, unlike previous years when it formed up on the track behind St. Vital School.
This will be the 30th annual parade for Battleford, with the theme being "pearl," as in the traditional anniversary symbol. It will be held Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m., it's usual timing, during the Handcraft Festival.
The move to Fort Battleford will allow for the Battle River Settlement Foundation Inc. and Friends of the Fort to hold some activities at the Fort in conjunction with the parade. The usual fireworks will be held in that area as well, said Randy Redding, superintendent of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Battleford at Monday's council meeting.
The new route will see the parade move down Central Avenue from the Fort to 15th Street, where it will turn and move west to 2nd Ave. It will follow 2nd Ave. to 22nd Street, where it will turn east and travel back to Central Ave, then return by Central to the Fort.
Deadline for parade entries is July 16. Entries may be directed to the Parks and Recreation office in Battleford.
Information about the planned route change came to council from the minutes of a Battleford and District Parks and Recreation Board meeting at which Gail Sack of the Battle River Settlement Foundation Inc. made a presentation to the board.
The Battle River Settlement Foundation Inc. is an umbrella organization developed by local people to preserve, protect and interpret for the public, the historic Battle River Settlement area which includes Telegraph Flats on the Battle River, Territorial House "Government House" foundation, the Land Registry Building and Colonel Otter Park. The Friends of Fort Battleford, which falls under this umbrella, operates the visitor centre at Fort Battleford, co-ordinates Urban Treaty Days and helps out with Curious Events, weapons demonstration and other events at Fort Battleford.
