Moose Jaw’s largest summer festival, Kinsmen Sidewalk Days, is coming up on July 6, 7, and 8, and will fill the city’s downtown with food, vendors, and entertainment of every kind, but organizers say volunteers are still urgently needed for the event to run as smoothly as possible.
“We’ve moved the Children’s Village, which is going to be completely brand-new for people — it’s going to be in front of Victory Church instead of Boh’s, so we’re just trying to centralize it a bit more,” explained Jacki L’Heureux-Mason, executive director of Tourism Moose Jaw, the organization behind the festival.
“We desperately need at least 15 more volunteers. I can’t overstate what a highlight the Moose Jaw Ford Children’s Village is going to be, we have an extra bouncy castle now even, which I think brings us up to eight. But without volunteers, we have to shut it down. So, we’re seeking an abundance of volunteers this year so we can be sure of being able to run everything straight through every day of the festival.”
Without volunteers manning the Children’s Village for each shift, each day, there will be gaps, L’Heureux-Mason explained, which is a sad thing to see.
To volunteer at Moose Jaw Kinsmen Sidewalk Days, go to tourismmoosejaw.com/volunteer or call Tourism Moose Jaw at 306-693-8097.
In other festival news, this year’s Sidewalk Days is looking stronger than ever, L’Heureux-Mason said.
“Our sponsorship has been tremendous this year. Obviously, the Moose Jaw Kinsmen stepping up as our title sponsors has been awesome, and so many of our other sponsors have returned for 2023. Déjà Vu Café has stepped in in a really cool way that we’re excited about — there’s going to be inflatable jousting held right by their building.
“I don’t know that I can even tell what that will look like, people are just going to have to come check it out. It’s meant for 14-plus, so obviously this is an activity for the ‘grown children’ out there.”
Vendor registration for the Kinsmen Sidewalk Days Festival is still open as of June 13, although late fees will soon start to be applied. Tourism Moose Jaw will probably extend the deadline even further, although it puts pressure on organizers the closer the festival date comes.
Vendors can apply at tourismmoosejaw.com/retail-vendor-registration.
Other major Sidewalk Days attractions will include the musical acts, with the Tilted Kilts, Uncoolas, Tequila Mockingbird, and Trick Ryder headlining. Water Vision Pool + Spas is sponsoring a ‘Battle of the Bands’ on Saturday, July 8, an event that has always proved popular — and the $1,500 cash prize should prove an enticing lure for Moose Javian musicians.
On July 7 at 10 a.m., 10 local enthusiasts will attempt to take the title of 1st Place Griller at the Canadian Tire Grill Off. Hub Meats is supplying the protein and Fat Panda the seasonings, and the first-place prize is a brand-new Canadian Tire barbeque.
Wrapping up, the Moose Jaw Co-op is sponsoring a Kid’s Chill Tent, nearly 200 retail vendors will be on site, and scores of food vendors will represent the world’s cultures, including Chinese, Mexican, Indian, and Canadian cuisines, alongside festival classics such as lemonade, donuts, BBQ, poutine, gourmet coffee, milkshakes, wings, ice cream, pizza, and tacos.
And that isn’t even everything, so if you aren’t planning on being in Moose Jaw on July 6, 7, and 8, you should be.
