By Raven Nyman
Heritage Week is on the horizon: here’s the schedule!
Clinton’s Western Heritage Week is quickly approaching, and locals know full well what that entails: the famous May Ball, the weekend rodeo, the annual parade, and a whole lot of fun.
This is the time of year when Clinton’s streets are busiest, our hotels are fully booked, and our restaurants are full of happy conversations. From May 19 to 27, locals often invite their relatives to visit, familiar faces return, and new friends are made as well.
To kick things off for Heritage Week, the museum opens on Friday, May 18 at 10 a.m. Then, on Saturday, May 19, the 151st Clinton Annual Ball will take place at the Memorial Hall. Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner provided by the Ladies Auxiliary to Royal Canadian Legion Branch #194, and will be entertained by the music of the Evergreen Drifters.
This year’s Ball theme will celebrate the many countries from which Cariboo settlers journeyed before they eventually put down roots in the Clinton area. Village councillor Wayne Marchant will again serve as the Ball’s Director of Ceremonies.
On Friday, May 25, the Old Timers’ Tea will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Clinton Memorial Hall. The Tea is a free social event organized annually in the community. The following day, May 26, will begin with Clinton’s well-loved parade starting at 11 a.m.
Don’t forget: this year’s parade theme is “After the Fire”. Parade co-chair Christine Rivett says the parade will be “a time to celebrate” and remember the relief we all felt upon returning home after last summer’s wildfires. As usual, traffic through the Village will be rerouted for the duration of the parade. This year’s Parade Marshall will once again be Roland Higginbottom. Following the parade, free hot dogs will be available at the fire hall.
The BCRA’s Clinton Rodeo starts Saturday at 1 p.m. at the rodeo grounds just south of town. Admission for adults is $15, while students and seniors get in for $10, and children aged six and under are free. Camping costs are $20 for the weekend, but this price does not include rodeo admission. Following the rodeo, the local 4-H serves up steak dinner at 5 p.m.
The Saturday events conclude with the rodeo dance, featuring Appaloosa. Tickets for the dance are $15 each, and minors are prohibited. A shuttle bus will make trips to and from Clinton to transport rodeo-goers safely home, offering service throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday, with evening service for Saturday’s rodeo dance.
On Sunday, May 27 a pancake breakfast begins at 9 a.m. at the rodeo grounds, along with slack rodeo. The second day of scheduled rodeo events officially begins at 1 p.m.
The rodeo will include a concession stand, and a beverage garden will also be open at the grounds throughout the weekend.
Plant, Bake, and Yard Sale coming up
The Clinton Health Care Auxiliary will host a Plant, Bake, and Yard Sale on Saturday, June 2 at Clinton’s Memorial Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature an on-site concession and a large variety of plants. Organizers will also be raising funds for the local food bank at this event, so be sure to mark your calendars and attend the sale in June to raise funds for a worthy cause.
CADOSA, computer assistance, and a foot clinic
The Foot Clinic will return to the Clinton Seniors’ Centre on Thursday, May 17. To discuss your foot care needs or to book an appointment at the clinic, call Colleen Thom (RN, FCN, FCN Ed) at (250) 819-1632. Also on May 17, following lunch, the Seniors’ Association will host its regular general meeting.
The Clinton and District Outdoor Sportsmen Association will hold its annual general meeting on Wednesday, June 6 at 7 p.m. in the Legion basement. The CADOSA AGM will include the election of executives.
A reminder that free one-on-one computer assistance will be offered again at the Clinton Library on Thursday, June 7 from 3 to 7 p.m. To make an appointment, call (250) 459-7752.
Do you have Clinton news? Contact Raven Nyman at ravenbrookn@hotmail.com.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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