Ron Sakamoto will lead the Coaldale Summer Fest Candy Parade on August 12, 2023. (Photo supplied by Town of Coaldale)

By Justin Goulet

Ron Sakamoto to lead 2023 Coaldale Summer Fest Candy Parade

Aug 3, 2023 | 1:11 PM

COALDALE, AB – The Town of Coaldale has named the marshal for its Canady Parade this month.

The parade is part of the annual Summer Fest celebration and will take place on Saturday, August 12, 2023. Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer Ron Sakamoto will lead the parade.

Sakamoto has a long history in the music industry and is well known for his concert firm, Gold & Gold Productions Ltd., which boasts a concert portfolio that includes tours and shows from stars like Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Gordon Lightfoot, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, and many others.

Recently, Sakamoto was honoured at the 52^nd Annual Juno Awards, receiving the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.

READ MORE: Ron Sakamoto reflects on his career ahead of JUNOS special achievement award

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The southern Albertan was born in Coaldale, with mayor Jack Van Rijn stating, “A lot of people don’t realize that despite residing in Lethbridge, Ron was actually born in Coaldale and for the first few years of his life, lived on a farm just outside of town.”

Van Rijn added, “To shine a light on his connection to the community, we’re thrilled to name him honorary parade marshal for the Town’s annual Summer Fest Candy Parade, as well as to have him participate in some of this year’s festivities.”

Coaldale Summer Fest will start on Friday, August 11 with a movie in Millenium Park behind the Coaldale Sportsplex. Town council will serve free pizza and Deez Eats food cart will be on site at around 7 p.m. to serve popcorn, hot dogs, and pop during the film, which will start screening between 8:30 and 9 p.m. For this year’s event, ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ was selected as the movie to screen in the park.

The festivities will continue into Saturday, August 12 with the Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast fundraiser and the Candy Parade, led by Sakamoto. The parade will depart from R.I. Baker School heading east down 22 Avenue at 11 a.m. The Town noted that Sakamoto will ride in a vintage horse and carriage provided by Phil and Marilyn Still, to pay homage to his agricultural roots.

After the parade, Sakamoto will join a panel of judges to help decide a winner of the town’s inaugural Battle of the Bands, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the ATCO stage. The night will include a performance from The Chevelles at 8 p.m., followed by a fireworks show.

The theme for this year’s Summer Fest is ‘Salute to Agriculture’.

READ MORE: Coaldale’s 2023 Summer Fest to salute agriculture

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