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Farewell to Rambo bridge

Celebration on old Kawkawa Bridge takes place July 10
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Hope Visitor Centre manager Inge Wilson stands with the Rambo photo board greeting visitors to the city. She’s helping organize the Rambo Bridge - The Final Take event on July 10.

Movie fans will have one last chance to relive the First Blood experience in Hope.

A community celebration on July 10 will pay tribute to the old Kawkawa Bridge which was predominantly featured in the film that launched the Rambo series. The iconic Hope landmark is being dismantled in August.

Rambo Bridge - The Final Take will feature a Rambo look-a-like contest, community barbecue hosted by Hope Search and Rescue, commemorative T-shirts, and Mayor Laurie French dressed as Sheriff Teasle. There will also be army vehicles, police cars, costumes and props on display from the set of First Blood.

"We all see this as an important anchor piece in what we offer here," said Inge Wilson, manager of the Hope Visitor Centre  "It's become a cult classic and people are just very intrigued by the film and scenery that they saw in the film, and they want to relive the movie magic."

The tourist attraction continues to draw people from all over the world, said Wilson. A young couple from England that attended the First Blood 25th anniversary celebration in 2007 are planning to return for the bridge event this weekend.

The celebration runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the old Kawkawa Bridge site. The winner of the free Rambo look-a-like contest will receive a flight over "Chapman's Gorge" (The Coquihalla Canyon at Othello Tunnels) with Valley Helicopters. Hope Cinema will also be showing the movie First Blood at 3 p.m. Admission is $5.

For more information, contact the Hope Visitor Centre at 604-869-2021.