We’ve been counting down for months. Now it’s finally here.
The 2013 Cowichan Lake Days have already started, and the committee has lined up a full week of activities to celebrate our community, our past, our present and our future.
This year’s Lake Days theme is Going Country.
Bob Day, chairperson of the Cowichan Lake Days committee, says the committee came up with the theme in January, inspired in part by Sunfest, the country music festival in Duncan.
Day says they thought it would be a good idea to make Lake Days country because Sunfest follows just two months later.
“It’s an easy thing to build around,” he said. “We’ve sourced some hats, which we’re selling for $5, and the goal of the committee is to get everyone who comes to the gates to wear a cowboy hat. We’ve tried to hire as many local bands to play country music as we can.”
After choosing the Going Country theme, the Lake Days committee contacted Sunfest, and the country music festival is providing two weekend passes for a prize in the Lake Days Raffle. Other prizes include an Apple iPad Mini, and two weekend pass to the Campbell River Salmon Festival. Tickets are one for $2 or three for $5, and the draw will take place Sunday, June 9.
As chairperson of the Lake Days Committee, Day says he looks forward to all the Lake Days activities.
“The one I get most emotional at is the Lady of the Lake crowning,” he said. “It’s just because in a small town, you get to know these young ladies, and you see the shyest ones who wouldn’t talk to anyone get up and play guitar or do a speech, and you go ‘wow, it’s more than just a pageant.’”
‘It’s a lot of work, but when the people flood through the gates, and I see the first smile on a kid’s face, it’s all worth it, and I know the rest of the committee agrees,” he added.
Day says the giant road hockey tournament on Sunday is a big highlight, and this year, he’s looking forward to the mechanical bull.
“There’s something for everybody, but me personally, I love it all,” he said. “It’s so cool to see people out of their normal routine, coming out to have fun.”
Traditionally, going back to the 1960s, there’s a high school reunion during the same weekend as Lake Days, which adds to the fun, according to Day.
“A lot of people come home for Lake Days,” he said.
Lake Days kicked off Sunday with the soapbox derby. Then the Lady of the Lake Strawberry Tea on Monday helped keep the feeling of community celebrations going.
The week of celebration continues tonight at 7 p.m. with the Lady of the Lake Opportunity Night in the Upper Centennial Hall and goes into high gear tomorrow with the soap box derby finals at 6 p.m. on Stone Avenue.
Celebrations keep going Friday, with the Lady of the Lake Grand Ball at 5:30 p.m. in the Upper Centennial Hall and with music at the Bandshell. The Good Times Band will perform at 6 p.m., followed by Bob at 7 p.m.
Then, it’s a full weekend jam-packed with family-friendly activities Saturday and Sunday, June 9. There will be live music, logger sports, the parade, the giant road hockey tournament, the KinDucky Derby, a salmon barbecue and so much more.
You can find all the details in our special Lake Days supplement in this week’s paper.
Or, visit cowichanlakedays.com. You can also e-mail Bob Day at cowichanlakedays@hotmail.ca.