On Thursday, August 8, the Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club will be hosting the Rotary River Valley Festival in celebration of their 25th anniversary. It will feature a performance by the prestigious RCMP Musical Ride
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Equestrian fun is coming to Fort Saskatchewan.

On Thursday, August 8, the Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club will be hosting the Rotary River Valley Festival in celebration of their 25th anniversary. It will feature a performance by the prestigious RCMP Musical Ride.

“The City of Fort Saskatchewan is very pleased the Rotary Club is hosting the RCMP Musical Ride in Fort Saskatchewan,” said Fort Saskatchewan mayor, Gale Katchur. “It is such a great attraction that brings people from around the region to see. Watching the riders in their red serve on their mouths riding in harmony is always a spectacular sight to see.”

The festival will take place rain or shine at the Rotary Amphitheatre at 100 street and 100 ave in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. The Rotary Amphitheatre is an outdoor venue with hillside seating, so be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on.

The event kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with food vendors and the Chamber of Commerce Farmer’s Market set up at the CN Station. The 1875 North West Mounted Police Fort will also be opened to the public at this time for free tours. The shows will start at 7 p.m. in the valley. After the opening ceremonies, there will be a sheep herding demonstration by Brightbank Finnsheep. That will be followed by a dog agility performance by Sherwood Barks, a dog training school out of Sherwood Park. Finally, the RCMP Musical Ride takes the stage at 8 p.m.

The RCMP musical ride is a group of 32 cavalry from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police showcasing their equestrian skills. The riders complete a set of complex drills and movements to music in an arena setting. The Musical Ride has been performing since 1887. It travels throughout Canada and internationally to promote the RCMP.

“It’s like ballet on horses,” said Stew Hennig, Rotary member and co-chair of the event. “It’s an amazing thing to watch. I find that watching from up above on the hill you can really see what’s going on. You can see just how intricate the patterns are.”

The Rotary Club has organized three free park and ride locations around Fort Saskatchewan for the event. Starting at 4:30 p.m., you can catch a free shuttle from the Dow Centennial Centre at 8700 84 Street, the Sportsplex Arena at 9513 89 Street, or the Jubilee Recreation Centre at 10013 96A Avenue.

The Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club has been providing service work in Fort Saskatchewan and around the globe for 25 years. Every year the club gives away between $20,000 and $30,000 in charitable donations. Some of the projects they are involved in include Operation Red Nose, providing grants to local community organizations focused on youth activities, providing scholarships to Fort Saskatchewan high school graduates, and showcasing local talent every Thursday through the concerts in the park program at the Legacy Park Bandshell.

Tickets for the Rotary River Valley Festival are on sale online through Ticketpro.ca or in person at the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan. Advance tickets are $10 per person or tickets will be available at the gate for $15 per person. Children five and under get in free.

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