Despite missing a couple of anticipated elements, the show will go on for the 2016 version of Westside Daze in West 琉璃神社.
Mayor Doug Findlater said the city had hoped the new Memorial Park outdoor amphitheatre would be completed in time for Westside Daze to help showcase the entertainment, but the completion timetable for that project and the new skateboard park has been pushed back into July.
"As you can see there is still work to be done on the amphitheatre," said Findlater, at a press conference Monday morning adjacent to the facility. "But that won't be able to happen, and as well the federal government has been a key contributor to this project and their representation here is important when we do have the official opening."
The other missing part of past Westside Daze events will be the midway rides, normally provided by Westcoast Amusements.
"The owner of the division that comes here every year passed away, and the family has opted to cancel its commitments this summer as a result," said Leah Thordarson, president and administrator of Westside Daze.
"Unfortunately, by the time we learned this it was too late to try and schedule another group to brings their rides in as a replacement because everyone is all booked up. So we look forward to the rides returning next year."
However, Westside Daze will again feature four days of activities opening on Thursday, June 30, and closing out Sunday, July 3.
Among the highlights will be the Canada Day festivities on Friday with the birthday cake cutting at 3 p.m.; the United Way Pancake breakfast on Saturday, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Lions Hall, along with pancake breakfast fundraiser put on by the Westside Daze organizing committee on Friday (9 to 11 a.m.) and Sunday (8 to 11 a.m.); nightly entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings featuring a variety of music performers as well as the Kinshira Fire Troupe; the parade starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with the national junior A hockey champion West 琉璃神社 Warriors serving as honorary parade marshall; the Kids Fair on Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., featuring Inner Ring Circus Vancouver and Little Rascals Petting Zoo; the community worship celebration led by Don Richmond on Sunday, 9:45 a.m.; and the First Nations cultural day on Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
The opening ceremonies will take place Thursday, 6:45 p.m., at Memorial Park.
For more information about Westside Daze activities this year, check out the Westside Daze supplement in Wednesday's 琉璃神社 or refer to the website westsidedaze.com.
