Heritage Park expected to bring in record attendance for Alberta Day festivities

Alberta became a province on September 1, 1905, and at Heritage Park, festivities are taking place to celebrate its history over the last 118 years.

Alberta became a province on September 1, 1905, and at Heritage Park, festivities are taking place to celebrate its history over the last 118 years.

“We are having the biggest day in Heritage Park’s history,” said president and CEO Lindsey Galloway.

“Our mission is about connecting people with the past. The past is still relevant today. If you think about the many, many stories you can talk about from the past. We make choices about the history that we tell. We make choices about the stories we tell.”

Galloway says Alberta Day festivities at the park will see around 20,000 people enter through the gates with free admission, a record setting day.

“To do 20,000 people, we can do that comfortably in this park,” said Galloway.

“We have 65 acres. We've got all the parking that we need. We’ve got the beautiful reservoir, the beautiful view. To have a free day at Heritage Park, allows so many different types of people, those who couldn't otherwise enjoy the day with us to be here. So it's something we'd like to do again.”

It’s the first year the park has held an event with 73 vendors, shops, train rides, the antique midway all open and live musical performances including the 8 p.m. headliner Nice Horse.