Callie Hermanson
Lakeside Leader
The second annual Riverboat Daze Children’s Festival will be taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 7.
Ali Mouallem of the Chamber of Commerce says the festival will kick off with a children’s parade. The parade will go down Main Street past Servus Credit Union and the Legion and run for about two blocks.
Mouallem says the festival will be held once again in the field at EG Wahlstrom Elementary School.
The festival will consist of 12 game booths put together by students from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy and a petting zoo sponsored by the Slave Lake Kinettes.
The fire department will also be bringing one of its fire trucks down.
All children are encouraged to bring their bikes, wagons and motorized vehicles to the festival to participate in drag races that Slave Lake Route 88 Rods and Customs will be hosting, says Mouallem.
Mouallem says the Slave Lake Rotary Club is talking about setting up a ninja obstacle course for kids to compete in.
Two food trucks will be stationed at the festival-one featuring Mexican cuisine and one featuring western cuisine.
Mouallem explains that the idea behind the Children’s Festival came to be because he has four young children who always wanted to play the games during Riverboat Daze, but they could never win any of the prizes. He says it was not affordable to let the kids play more than one or two games each.
“The games set up at the Children’s Festival will be much more affordable.”
Tickets will cost $1, and games will only take one ticket to play, kids will be guaranteed to win a prize each time.
“I want to thank EG Wahlstrom and the High Prairie School Division for lending us the field space to make the festival happen.”
If anyone is interested in taking part in the festival, they can contact Mouallem at 780-805-6122 or email at aliemouallem@hotmail.com.
When the festival is over, Mouallem encourages people to check out the beach for the judging of the sandcastle competition.
Wendy Barton and Sheri Smears of the Rotary Club of Slave Lake presenting a $2,000 donation to Ali Mouallem, Laurie Hodge, Serena Green and Kim Hughes of the Slave Lake Chamber of Commerce for the Riverboat Daze children’s festival.
Darren Green of Blue Wave Energy presenting a $300 cheque to members Ali Mouallem, Laurie Hodge, Serena Green and Kim Hughes of the Slave Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Shelley Perkins and Kattee Nelson of the Slave Lake Kinettes presenting a $1,500 cheque to Ali Mouallem, Laurie Hodge, Serena Green and Kim Hughes of the Chamber for the kid’s festival.