The turnout for this weekend’s Centennial Spectacular has far exceeded the expectations of organizers.
It’s estimated 25,000 people made their way through Muskoseepi Park over three days, including 14,000 for Emerson Drive and fireworks.
Co-chair of the 100th Anniversary Homecoming celebration Chris Thiessen says the response has been great, with several in attendance asking for a similar celebration annually.
“Which is funny because we started out saying this is a once every hundred year celebration, it’s a landmark celebration. By the time it was over, even our organizing committee was echoing those same sentiments as the people attending that we should do this every year.”
Thiessen was also happy with the turn out for the Rocky Horror Picture Show Saturday night, as the 500 in attendance would mean a sell out at any local theatre.
The museum also set a record for how many people it saw Saturday, at 2,500 in one day.
For Thiessen, it means a lot to see so many people celebrating the growth of the city.
“Sometimes Grande Prairie is a town that gets a little bit taken for granted, but I think if we stop and create events like these and we have events like these, it really brings together community, and it really gives people perspective of how far Grande Prairie’s come.”
The weather was perfect for the old fashioned carnival, live music and fireworks.