According to the calendar, summer is still nearly a month away but, really, as far as Creston people are concerned, doesn’t our summer season start with Blossom Festival? And wasn’t this year’s event terrific?
For me, Blossom Festival weekend really started on Thursday evening. I was honoured to emcee the Creston Valley Music Teachers’ Association’s Team Creston concert, which featured four young musicians who will be going on to the provincials next September. Performances by Cory Hammond, Megan Bibby, Emma Penner and Alec Hammond quite simply blew me away. From the opening number, with 11-year-old Cory singing (she also plays piano and violin) a humorous but challenging song—in Italian no less—to the final Romanian Folk Dances from Hungary by Megan Bibby, the entire program was a tour de force. These musicians are a tribute to their families and their music teachers, and what an addition they make to the rich life we have here in the Creston Valley.
On Friday afternoon, I made my way to Casey’s Community House, where the much anticipated reveal of the old Kootenay Hotel renovations took place. By 4:30 the place was buzzing with excited voices, and there was much oohing and aahing. Ralph Casemore and Tanya Wall and their large circle of workers and friends have truly over-delivered on their commitment to reshape the downtown core. Take a look for yourself if you haven’t already been—you will not be disappointed.
Friday night we made our way down to Prince Charles Theatre for the opening Blossom Festival concert, which featured an excellent tribute to the music of Kenny Rogers. The First Edition, in which Rogers first found fame, was one of my favourite groups ‘way back when, and I continued to enjoy him as a solo artist. Marty Edwards and his band did not disappoint.
It’s really the announcement of the Citizens of the Year that thrills me about the opening event, though. The selection of Eric and Donna Kutzner was a great choice, but there was a bit of a let down in knowing that they have moved away and were not able to return to accept their well deserved accolades. Nonetheless, the Kutzners, who are largely responsible for the creation of Spectrum Farms, were well represented by their friend Alex Nilsson.
This year’s Junior Citizen of the Year, Ethan Greentree, was in attendance though, and through Mike Fitzpatrick’s introduction, we learned about this impressive and inspiring young man. More about Ethan can be found in a story elsewhere in this issue.
On Saturday morning, the mixed weather forecast worked in our favour, and by 11 a.m. the crowds on Canyon Street were basking under warm and generally sunny skies. What followed was, to my memory, one of the best Blossom Festival parades ever. Credit parade marshall Don Tarrant for keeping it moving—there was only one minor gap—and to the many entrants in this year’s parade. Wasn’t it great to see the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce float and other entries from out of town? I hope this is the start of trend, because the guests only served to add to the terrific efforts of local organizations and businesses.
After the parade came lunch and then visits to a number of events, not least of which was the horse-riding competitions at Creston Flats Stables. What a remarkable facility that the owners have created on Indian Road. Being able to hold horse events indoors is a huge benefit and I always enjoy my visits. As riders made their way around a challenging course of Saturday afternoon I felt well and thoroughly entertained.
The beautiful weekend continued, and it was a joy to see Canyon Street crowded again on Sunday, and to just get out and about and visit some of my favourite places and people. I’d like to give a tip of my John Deere ball cap to the many volunteers who worked so hard to make the 2018 Creston Valley Blossom Festival a success. Well done, folks!
