CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The City of Charlottetown is getting set to celebrate its 164th birthday with Natal Day events taking place, Aug. 1-4.
The event has traditionally been held in early June but council agreed to move it to August this year to take advantage of the warmer weather.
There will be a mid-summer garden party, Rochford Square will host family yoga, there will be a pancake breakfast and a community dance.
Activities also include a skateboard, BMX and scooter competition, a celebration in honour of Forbes Kennedy, a seniors’ social with the mayor and council, citizen recognition awards, a parade and church service as well as the Downtown Farmers’ Market and VegP.E.I.’s first vegan block party.
The weekend wraps up with afternoon fun in the park, featuring children’s activities, birthday cupcakes and more at Victoria Park.
On Thursday, Aug. 1, from 5-7 p.m., join the Charlottetown food council at the Legacy Garden at 420 University Ave. for the mid-summer garden party featuring fresh local food, free activities and music.
At 7 p.m., head to Beaconsfield Carriage House to the mayor’s citizen recognition awards to honour some of the people doing outstanding work in the city.
On Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. relax with family yoga in Rochford Square before enjoying the annual pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The rain location is the fire station on Kent Street. The skateboard, BMX and scooter competition will take place at the Victoria Park Skateboard Park with registration at 9:30 a.m. Helmets are mandatory. Prizes will be awarded. In the afternoon, join the mayor and council for entertainment and refreshments at the seniors’ social at Murphy’s Community Centre from 2-4 p.m. The dance will take place at the West Royalty Community Centre from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Kent Street fire station. The mayor, members of council, the fire department and police services, as well as military units will parade along Queen, Grafton and Prince Streets, concluding at Trinity United Church at 10:20 a.m. for the church service.
Celebrations continue with the open-air Downtown Farmers’ Market, including more than 70 vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Island’ first vegan block party will take place at Confederation
Landing and include food, activities and music from noon to 6 p.m. Afternoon fun in the park takes place from 1-4 p.m.
Also on on Sunday, at 6 p.m., the public is invited to join the mayor and council at Beaconsfield Carriage House to honour Kennedy, along with the presentation of the inaugural Forbes Kennedy Volunteer of the Year Award.
For a full schedule and the latest information on Natal Day, visit www.charlottetown.ca and click on events and initiatives.
It’s also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofCharlottetown or follow along on Twitter.com/ChtownPE