The Victoria Day weekend is the long awaited start of summer and tourist season. There was a steady stream of out of province licence plates beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday (May 15). My sister was one, and she assured me that the speeding was adequately controlled between the sheer volume of vehicles, as well as the integrated highway unit out in full force at the lookout. It was interesting to walk around our village, visit with locals, part-timers, and visitors, wander through the main street businesses, and see our community through her eyes as a visitor – we (Radium Hot Springs) showed well!
This weekend we welcomed 400 cyclists with the Golden Triangle bike tour as they sprinted into town on Saturday celebrating their 32nd annual event! A lovely summer-ish evening, highlighted by a tasty meal served by the Lions Club. The market was already drawing quite a crowd on Saturday morning when we visited, and the live music was just getting started.
It was interesting to hear a comment that there “wasn’t enough to do here.” Of course we have things to do. Just ask any one of the helpful staff at the Visitor/Parks Information Centre which was hopping on Saturday. For anybody who has guests coming this summer, for any length of stay and any age group, there is something for everybody to enjoy in Radium Hot Springs as well as in other places up and down the valley.
Other than golfing, hiking, kayaking, cycling, fishing, lazing in the hot springs, or sitting and enjoying food and drink on one of the many patios at our restaurants, some other suggestions include:
May: The Windermere Charity Golf Tournament on May 30.
June: Ram into Summer Golf Tournament, June 15 or Radium Days/Brits Best Classic Car Show June 20.
July: Stampede Pancake Breakfast in Radium July 3 or a free Wild Kidz day camp near Radium, July 13-17.
August: Columbia Valley Tour of the Arts, August 2 or Radium Library’s Teddy Bear Picnic, August 15.
Aside from the comment above, I often hear “I didn’t know that was happening”. For complete lists of events you can check out the Tourism Radium website, pick up a copy of the Radium Village Life newsletter (hot off the press for the long weekend) at any business in Radium or, for valley wide events, pick up a copy of the Valley Beat magazine (with its pull out schedule of events) on most newsstands. If you have ideas of ways we can communicate events more effectively, please call our village office or the vIsitors information centre to share your ideas.
I am sure my sister went home to Calgary for a rest!
Clara Reinhardt is the mayor of the Village of Radium Hot Springs and a Regional District of East Kootenay director for the Columbia Valley.