A new theme and a new time of year for The Lions 2001 Valley East Days is in store for us this weekend. Beginning with the Family Day at Festival Farms in Hanmer on Thursday, August 16, local residents will be treated to plenty of wholesome, down-to-earth activities to celebrate and “Experience Our Heritage”.

Valley East Days have traditionally been held the first weekend after Labour Day, however, this year’s organizing committee decided to do things differently this time around. On top of this, the events will run a total of four days instead of the usual three.

The kick-off to the weekend is at Festival Farms in Hanmer and will include hayrides, a barbecue, games and entertainment for all ages. The day comes to a finish with a spaghetti dinner and Euchre Tournament held at the Centennial Arena. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. with registration for the euchre tournament taking place at 7 p.m. The euchre tournament entry fee is only $10.00. and the supper is $8.

Friday will be a tough decision day for residents as they will have their choice of activities at three different locations throughout the community. To satisfy your taste-buds, everyplace you turn you will find a BBQ. Visit either Moncions Your Independent Grocers, Desjardins Food Basics at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre or M & M’s in Val Caron for a tasty hot dog or hamburger. A Children’s parade will begin at 1 p.m from the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. Prizes will be presented for the best decorated bikes or wagons. The Hanmer Shopping Centre will be the place to be if you have young children as the Bouncing Merryland inflatable rides and Games will be in action all day long.

On Friday evening, the teens and the adults will share Centennial Arena. The Teens will be upstairs from 7 p.m. to 12 midnight dancing to music by Fran and witnessing the crowning of the Valley East Days King and Queen. While this is happening, the adults will be enjoying a Karaoke and Pub Night of their own from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.. What a way to bring the family together. Parents and their teens can go to the dance in the same car.

Saturday begins with a Pancake breakfast sponsored by the Valley East Scouts at Centennial Arena from 7 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. The Annual Trade Show will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the arena floor. It will include a baking contest, corn roast, garage sale, entertainment and Children’s Bouncing Merryland inflatable ride games. A Pre-Teen dance  will take place during the afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. with music by Fran. The highlight of the evening will be a good old-fashioned Barn Dance featuring none other than our own Larry Berrio! Admission is $5. and the fun begins at 8 p.m.

After a hearty pancake breakfast Sunday, the traditional Valley East Days parade will begin at 12 p.m. and will travel all the way from the Val Est Mall in Val Caron to the Centennial Arena in Hanmer where the big event of the day will be a Car Show. The trade show will also continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once again the Valley East Lions have chalenged the employees of our city to a baseball game scheduled for 3 p.m.

The Valley East Lion’s Club is once again the major sponsor of the annual celebration of our community. The theme, “Experience Our Heritage” is definitely coming out in the planning of the events as the entire community is being used during the four days.