New Sudbury, new community festival

Community festivals — such as Capreol Days and Valley East Days — are well established in outlying areas of Greater Sudbury.

Now those living in a more urban area of the city — New Sudbury — have banded together to celebrate their sprawling neighbourhood. The first-ever New Sudbury Days will take place Aug. 29-30.

The festival is a project of the Ward 8 and Ward 12 CANs, local playground associations, as well as city councillors representing New Sudbury.

“Sudbury's becoming so much more vibrant because of the festivals and opportunities for people to get out there, so we want to be part of that,” Rachelle Niemala, chair of the Ward 8 CAN.

Dollard Avenue in New Sudbury has been home to Niemala for 30 years, and she said it's a great place to live.

“I bike all the time in the New Sudbury neighbourhood,” she said. “There's some great restaurants we can go to. It's a very safe community.”

The New Sudbury Centre — arguably the heart of the New Sudbury area — will be ground central for the festival.

Starting at 10 a.m. on the Saturday, the mall will feature children's activities such as inflatables and face-painting, live entertainment, booths, and even a mascot beauty contest — yes, you read that correctly.

“(Ward 12 Coun.) Joselyne Landry Altmann that came up with that, and we ran with it,” Niemala said.

“It's something that I'm pretty sure has never been done before, so it's going to be really fun. I think she's got 10 or 12 mascots lined up.”

Events will also take place at Adanac starting at 4 p.m., including a guided walk trail, live music and an outdoor movie.

Sunday's activities include a pancake breakfast at Ridgecrest Playground, a barbecue and community garden dedication at Twin Forks Playground and fireworks at Westmount playground.

Back at the mall, there's be a classic car show and a Bluez Brotherz concert and a celebration in honour of Mayor Brian Bigger's birthday.


Don't miss:

Mascot Beauty Contest – Aug. 29 at 2 p.m., New Sudbury Centre main stage

Outdoor movie – Aug. 29 at 8:45 p.m., Adanac

Classic car show, Bluez Brotherz concert, mayor's birthday celebrations - Aug. 30 starting at 1 p.m., New Sudbury Centre

Fireworks – Aug. 30 starting at 9:30 p.m., Westmount Playground

For a full schedule of events, visit newsudburydays.ca