After a week of wet, chilly weather, the sun shone bright and warm from a cloudless sky on Saturday, Sept. 12, in time for the annual Erskine Floats'n'Flicks celebration.
The annual event begins with a small parade in town, followed by a free barbecue, a local farmers' market, and then a movie presentation.
The ninth annual event began right on the mark with the RCMP leading the parade in their pick-up truck. It was followed closely by avid cyclists, decorated trucks, floats, horses and wagons, all throwing candy at eager onlookers.
The Town of Stettler's Al Campbell drove a Stettler truck, tossing gum gleefully at bystanders, while the County rolled out its special 60th birthday float, from atop which councillor Joe Gendre peppered bystanders with candy. Councillor James Nibourg followed in another vehicle, also happily tossing treats to the children who raced alongside the floats.
After the floats passed along the northern perimeter of Main Street in Erskine, many of the kids raced down the blocked-off street to catch the parade as it passed through the southern part of its loop, doubling up on candy.
At first, the event was actually several separate events, but over time came together to become the Erskine Floats'n'Flicks celebration, with community members and neighbours sharing in the fun.
As with the past several years, Ol' MacDonald's resort loaned its train, which tugged train cars with passengers through the community – though this year the train was an ATV, as the train was out of service.
Helium balloons were tied to the wrists and strollers of many young child, though a few escaped their owners and floated free in the breezy, cloudless sky, jewelled dots against a prairie blue background.
The Erskine Evangelical Free Church's annual "Good Neighbour" barbecue served up hamburgers and hotdogs, chips, lemonade and water, and watermelon to hungry members of the community – though some had already begun to dine on the candy liberated from the parade floats.
After the barbecue, families and kids retreated into the church to watch back-to-back movies, before heading home for the night.