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Aaron Pritchett performing at Brigade Days

Lots of activities planned for the annual end of summer festival
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Canadian country star Aaron Pritchett is performing in Hope on Friday

Country star Aaron Pritchett is headlining the entertainment lineup at Brigade Days next weekend

Local artist Roger Dalton and guitarist Jerry Doucette will kick off the Friday night lineup at the Sixth Avenue Sports Bowl along with Vancouver’s country-rock band Me and Mae, who are currently on tour across Canada promoting their debut album Off the Rails. Pritchett will then take to the stage with his high energy set, featuring hits like Hold My Beer, Lets Get Rowdy, New Frontier, and Suntan City.

“We wanted to go as big as we could this year and he was there for us,” said Jeff Smith, president of the Brigade Days committee. “We’re trying to grow the festival. The more participants we get to the festival, the more money it provides for the upcoming years and we hope to expand it. We knew that booking an act like (Aaron Pritchett) would attract people from out of town into Hope.”

The Sports Bowl gates open at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 and there will be a Brigade Days opening ceremony prior to the concert starting at about 7 p.m. Mike Barker will light up the sky with a fireworks show following the concert

Saturday (Sept. 6) kicks off at 10 a.m. with the annual parade along Wallace Street. Hope Community Services will be collecting non-perishable food items for the food bank along the route.

Hope Motorsports Group presents 4x4 and mini stock races on Saturday at the Sports Bowl, as well as a demolition derby and mini stock races on Sunday (Sept. 7). The action gets underway at 1 p.m. both days.

In Sixth Avenue Park, there will be a beer garden, gold panning demonstrations with Yukon Dan, sheep and duck herding, and a BMX and skateboarding exhibition throughout the weekend. The Golden Agers Club is providing bingo from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at the curling rink as well as a pancake breakfast Sunday morning. A free concert on Saturday night at the Sports Bowl will feature Robert Roland. On Sunday afternoon, there will be a magic show with Gary Savard at the fairgrounds and a free swim at the rec centre. A raffle draw will close the weekend festivities on Sunday. A quad, home theatre system, and $1,000 travel voucher are up for grabs.

New to Brigade Days this year is activities in Memorial Park on Saturday, running from 12-5 p.m. The Aldergrove Thunderbird Fast Draw Club will be putting on a show and there will be booths promoting outdoor activities in the area. There will also be inflatable games from Vancouver’s Partyworks, including the big red balls featured in the TV show Wipeout, a giant fire truck slide and maze. All games are $1 with a Brigade Days wristband or $2 without. Bucky the Beaver will be in the park as well, courtesy of Fraserway RV, with kids games and activities. On Saturday night, there will be an outdoor movie in Memorial Park by the bandshell starting at about 8:30 p.m. Popcorn and pop will be handed out by the Hope Legion.

The two-pitch softball tournament, in memory of Caesar Soares, will also run throughout the weekend at the Sixth Avenue and C.E. Barry school ball diamonds. Fourteen teams from Hope, Agassiz, Chilliwack and Abbotsford will play a minimum of four games starting on Friday. The finals will take place on Sunday and cash prizes will be awarded to the top four teams.

“We’re trying to provide the best bang for your buck,” said Smith. “There’s tons of family fun. We’re trying to make sure we have something for everyone.”

Brigade Days wristbands provide entry into all the events. They are available in advance at Romano’s, Pharmasave, Fields, Blue Moose, Lordco, Shelly’s Hair Stop, Canyon Cable, Toy’s Pharmacy, Gardner GM, Hope Signcrafters, Hair Trends and Jimmy’s Pub in Agassiz. Reserved seating for the Friday night concert is also available for $30.

For more information about the 46th annual Brigade Days, visit hopebrigadedays.com