The Town of Crossfield is teaming up with the local chamber of commerce for this year’s iteration of Community Fest, which will take place Sept. 13 on Railway Street.
Held every year, Community Fest is a way for the Town of Crossfield to showcase to residents the various community groups, clubs and local organizations they can get involved with, explained Eris Latham, the municipality’s recreation and events coordinator.
From 4 to 8 p.m., she said 13 community groups will have booths set up on Railway Street between Hammond and Smith Avenues for attendees to check out. Latham said the event will provide residents an opportunity to peruse and learn more about the local clubs, programs and organizations they can register for this fall, whether it’s local hockey teams, taekwon-do clubs, or more.
“It’s a one-stop-shop for registering kids for fall events, as well as being able to see what resources are available,” she said. “A lot of things we offer aren’t maybe right out in the open, because they are [based] in Airdrie, such as Community Links and [BGC Airdrie].”
Community Fest will also include a food truck component this year, with four trucks set up on-site. Latham added restaurants along Railway Street will also be open and some will likely be offering specials for the duration of the festivities.
While Community Fest would traditionally coincide with Rocky View Schools’ meet-the-teacher barbecue, Latham said this year’s rendition will instead celebrate the completion of Crossfield’s downtown revitalization project, which wrapped up in July after more than a year of construction along Railway Street. A ribbon-cutting for the completion of the project will be conducted at 6 p.m.
“We would love to have everyone out to celebrate the construction that is now completed in the downtown,” Latham said. “For the most part, people have been very happy with the results. It’s a beautiful little space and we want to make sure the people who don’t generally spend a lot of time downtown come and experience what we have to offer down there.”
The Crossfield Chamber of Commerce is co-organizing Community Fest this year. The chamber’s executive director, Lani McLeod, said the event will be a way to bring the community together and kick off the busy fall and winter seasons.
“It’s kind of a time to bring people back together after the summer, to get back into those routines and showcase some of the local businesses and activities available this winter,” she said.
Capping off the event will be a live concert from 7 to 8 p.m., featuring the Two-way community band, which McLeod noted includes local musicians.
“We’re really excited to have them – I don’t think they’ve done a live concert in Crossfield before,” she said.
Above all else, McLeod said Community Fest provides a fun excuse for Crossfieldians to connect with their neighbours and discover a little more about the town’s resources and organizations.
“I think there are a lot of hidden gems and activities you can get involved with, as well as some of the restaurants around town you maybe haven’t tried before,” she said. “It’s a good time to [eat at] a restaurant you haven’t before, or a food truck, or to come out and see what the town has to offer your family this year.”
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
