Latest news with #LilacFestival
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lilac Festival to give downtown Claremore flowery new look
The downtown Claremore Lilac District will soon get a makeover to match its name, said the director of the upcoming Lilac Festival. Claremore's inaugural Lilac Festival will bring live music, dancing, shopping deals, vendor booths and more to the downtown streets from Thursday to Saturday. The festival is free and runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Steve Robinson, executive director of organizer Claremore Main Street, said the festival will usher in permanent cosmetic changes to the Lilac District. "We're gonna have flower baskets, planters, street poles all painted black," Robinson said. "It's going to transform the look downtown." Robinson said Claremore Main Street will paint a purple Lilac District logo on the street at the intersection of Will Rogers Boulevard and Cherokee Street. The organization will also hang lilac baskets from the light poles and place lilac-filled concrete planters beside downtown benches. Claremore's downtown has carried the Lilac District name since 2021, when Claremore City Council passed a resolution to make it so. The name pays tribute to Lynn Riggs, author of "Green Grow the Lilacs," the play that inspired the musical "Oklahoma!" "The Lilac Festival will really focus on the connection between the Lilac District, 'Green Grow the Lilacs' and Native Americans at the beginning of our state," Robinson said. "'Green Grow the Lilacs' was all about Claremore becoming a state. ... What we are celebrating is that era of statehood where you brought together Native Americans with farmers, with ranchers, and you mixed all those cultures together, and that became Claremore." Riggs embodied this mixture: His mother was one-eighth Cherokee, while his father had English heritage. On Friday, festival attendees can take part in square dancing and a pie auction, both elements of Riggs' "Green Grow the Lilacs." At 9:30 p.m. that night, the Claremore Museum of History will screen "Oklahoma!" at Gazebo Park. The festival will also spotlight Claremore's Cherokee heritage. Monica Champ, a Cherokee jeweler and beadwork artist helping to organize the festival, said the organizers are inviting women to wear their ribbon skirts Thursday for a style show. "The reason we wear them is to show our pride, our solidarity, our sovereignty, that we're still here," Champ said. She said Choogie Kingfisher, a storyteller and Cherokee National Treasure, will perform at Gazebo Park from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Cherokee artists will also sell their wares at vendor booths throughout the festival, and kids can make their own Cherokee-inspired art by painting rocks to form a snake, which Robinson said will stay on display downtown after the festival. Champ said she is very excited for the festival and hopes it will promote "gadugi," the Cherokee concept of building and strengthening community. Robinson said the goal of the festival and accompanying cosmetic changes is to make downtown Claremore a destination spot. "We really want the Lilac Festival to become an event like Dickens [on the Boulevard] ... where we draw 10,000 people to downtown Claremore and get a feel for it so they want to come back," Robinson said.
Calgary Herald
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Calgary Herald
New curbside pillars are under construction at Calgary Airport, doorway closures are expected throughout the summer
Construction began Monday, June 16, on new anti-ramming curbside columns at Calgary International Airport — joining locations around the city renewing focus on pedestrian safety. Article content The waist-high pillars are called bollards and will be placed in front of every door on both the arrival and departure levels. The Calgary Airport Authority described the construction in a statement as a proactive attempt to boost security, rather than a reactive response to any particular incident. They described the barriers as 'part of a multi-year initiative to further safeguard public-facing areas and align with evolving industry best practices.' Article content Article content Article content The Calgary Airport Authority did not answer when asked about the projected cost of the bollard construction, nor reveal details about future elements of the multi-year plan. Article content Article content The development will take place in phases, as an attempt to 'minimize disruption while work is underway.' Those travelling to the airport can expect reduced curb space in the domestic arrivals zone and 'higher-than-normal volumes,' during peak hours. Article content The airport previously estimated an average of 67,000 visitors each day over the course of the summer. While the construction just missed those travelling for the G7 summit in Kananaskis, it will be ongoing through both the Rotary International Convention and the Calgary Stampede. By the end of the summer, the airport expects to have seen more than 5.8 million visitors. Article content With less curb to share while construction is ongoing, the airport is attempting to mitigate the time drivers spend near doorways waiting for passengers. Signage will be posted to navigate any lane closures, and they suggest vehicles work their way to the 'cellphone lot', where drivers can stay up to 60 minutes, described as a great location for 'a bit of extra time to play Candy Crush.' Article content Article content Protection measures against vehicles have been a focus around the city in recent months. Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian asked what precautions the city was taking during a council meeting days after the deadly vehicle attack in Vancouver. The incident led to increased security during Calgary's Lilac Festival, with police cars blocking additional roadways beyond the usual signage. Article content The Calgary Stampede has also become home to its own anti-vehicle equipment, opting for portable barriers over in-ground bollards. Six barriers are currently deployed in anticipation of this weekend's Rotary convention, emblazoned with custom Calgary Stampede Logos. Article content 'Each one weighs 695 lbs, so you can't push them around,' said Brad McCabe, Meridian's director for Western Canada.
Calgary Herald
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
'4th Street is alive today': Calgarians flock to 34th Lilac Festival
Article content 'I like the live music and I like bringing my rabbit out,' he said, noting milder weather for this year's festival was ideal for Hoppy. Article content 'I usually bring a spray bottle and spray her down constantly, but I didn't really have to this year,' he said. 'It's just perfect for her.' Article content Article content Among the vendors was Carrie Fehr from Leduc, Alta., owner of Good Walk Collars & Leashes. She made the 2.5-hour drive to Calgary for the event — her biggest market of the year, she said. Article content 'It's an excellent vibe,' she said. 'It's been an awesome day . . . The crowd is great. Everyone's happy and looking forward to a great, sunny day.' Article content The Meow Foundation, a longtime festival participant, marked its 25th anniversary with a fundraising booth offering handmade items for pet owners. Article content 'It's a big deal for us,' said Stephanie Sterling, board chair for the organization that helps find 'forever homes' for stray and abandoned cats. 'We'll do 30 to 40 markets every year (and) this is one of our biggest.' Article content Article content What began as a small street fair celebrating the blooming of lilacs has grown into a major city-wide event. Lilac Festival event producer Jennifer Rempel said the day now provides a significant economic boost for local businesses. Article content
Global News
01-06-2025
- Global News
Calgary police to deploy enhanced security measures during busy street festival season
Calgary Police Service (CPS) say they'll be beefing up security at street festivals this summer. CPS deputy Insp. Jordan Nolan tells Global News the new measures are in response to incidents where vehicles have been used to drive into crowds. 'Given recent events that have happened across the county and in other parts of the world, we are taking measures to ensure things like the Lilac Festival will see enhanced safety measures,' explained Nolan. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Nolan wasn't able to share what those security measures included but says for the 100,000 people who are expected to attend the Lilac Festival on Sunday, he says increased security won't be what people focus on. 'Not only are we ensuring that the event is safe, but also that people can enjoy it without being impeded by those measures,' Nolan said. 'You'll probably see it at most events that are coming up. Just as things change, as events around the world change, and we will adapt and evolve and change our practices as well.'
CTV News
31-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
The weather's going to take a turn for Sunday, but we'll get a mostly summer-hot Saturday first
Most of Saturday will be stable and hot. Rain should hold off until late Saturday. Sunday will be cooler and windy, with on/off rain and maybe thunderstorms. An error has occurred during playback. Please try again later. [1000/0] An error has occurred Summer heat is in store for us Saturday! Most of Saturday will be stable and hot. The winds will pick up in the afternoon to 40 km/h, but later in the day, the gusts will likely get even stronger. The rain should hold off until late Saturday night. danielle weather / may 30, 2025 Sunday will be much cooler and windy, with on/off rain. There is also the chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures will remain in the teens until Wednesday. danielle weather / may 30, 2025 Lilac Festival is this weekend. Here is a National Geographic-type photo from Don McCreary of the lilacs and a happy little fella! danielle weather / may 30, 2025 Happy weekend!
