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Plenty of events to keep Heritage Days hopping

Although the forecast called for rain last weekend, Heritage Days was spared a downpour, allowing the festivities to
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The logging truck parade has always been an important part of the Heritage Days festivities. This year there were 10 participating trucks.

Although the forecast called for rain last weekend, Heritage Days was spared a downpour, allowing the festivities to carry on unimpeded and Saywell Park to come alive with a variety of family-friendly activities.

“We were lucky with the weather. It’s not sunny, but it’s just perfect, not too hot, not too cold,” said coordinator Pat Foster.

“We’ve had a lot of visitors in the museum, which is the whole point.”

Weekend events kicked off Saturday morning at Saywell Park, where Communities in Bloom was carrying out its annual hanging basket sale. The group had 95 baskets that officially went on sale at 10 a.m., and within half an hour they had sold all but 15.

Edith Strocen of the Communities in Bloom local organization said the baskets are always a popular item during Heritage Days.

“We have no problem selling them,” she said.

The baskets are made by students at Lake Cowichan School, Palsson Elementary School and members of the Lake Cowichan Girl Guides troop. They’re sold for $15 each, with the proceeds going back to the schools’ green programs and to the Girl Guides, who also received a badge for their work.

Heritage Days featured a used book sale, managed by the Lady of the Lake candidates; the logging truck parade on South Shore Road, featuring 10 entries this year; and face-painting and a children’s parade in the museum’s driveway.

One of the most popular activities was the Dog Parade, in which local owners shared some of their dogs’ tricks and then paraded them through the park.

“We’re doing [awards for] best in show, best tricks, best costumes and the best look alike — the dog that looks most like the owner,” said Lynn Brooks, co-coordinator of the event. Brooks is a volunteer with the Lake Cowichan Animal Rescue Society and also teaches a dog obedience course through Cowichan Lake Recreation.

“Best in show is when we pick the best dog here, but that’s really hard to do. They’re all the best.”

Ultimately that award was given to a small labradoodle named Bentley.

On Sunday the festivities at Saywell Park continued with a picnic by the museum, Trunk Treasures flea market and the Heritage Days talent show.

Amanda Nixon won the competition with her rendition of ‘Angel’ by Sarah McLachlan.

Nixon, a Grade 11 student Lake Cowichan School, can be founding performing at any opportunity she can, and has participated in Summer Nights, Winter Nights, Cow Idol during Lake Days and Song Birds singing competition in Nanaimo.

“Anything they let me do, I’ll do,” she said. Nixon also hosts a show on Radio Cowichan called Manic Mondays, which airs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.