Article content material
The 4th Road Lilac Competition returns on Sunday, kicking off town’s vibrant pageant season with extra distributors and stay leisure than ever.
Article content material
The annual spring pageant is ready to be the most important but, as organizers increase the occasion to seventeenth Avenue between 2nd and fifth streets SW after a profitable launch final 12 months. The enlargement makes approach for 2 extra phases and the a whole bunch of distributors and meals vans registered.
Article content material
“This 12 months’s Lilac Competition is greater than only a kickoff to summer season, it’s an embodiment of the colourful spirit and cultural cloth of our metropolis,” mentioned Jennifer Rempel, Lilac Competition occasion producer.
“Past the sights and sounds of the pageant, we’re proud to say that it acts as a unifying power, bringing folks and enterprise collectively in a shared expertise of celebration and connection.”
The free pageant takes place on Sunday from 10am to 6pm on 4th Road SW between twelfth Avenue and Elmbow Drive, and seventeenth Avenue between 2nd Road and fifth Road SW

Extra distributors, meals vans than ever
With greater than 600 distributors and meals vans booked to line 4th Road and seventeenth Avenue, Rempel mentioned that is the very best variety of distributors registered within the pageant’s 34-year historical past.
“It is an actual financial heartbeat and incubator for the day,” Rempel mentioned. “There are additionally many 4th Road companies collaborating. It is an excellent day to return down.”
An estimated $5 million is spent on 4th Road and seventeenth Avenue in the course of the Lilac Competition, which provides many native companies an financial enhance, Rempel mentioned.
The seventeenth Avenue extension was one thing organizers examined final 12 months and had been “blown away by the response,” she mentioned. With the additional area, the pageant can welcome extra distributors, entertainers and guests all through the day.
It is arduous to foretell attendance with a free occasion, however Rempel mentioned the climate forecast appears to be like good and she or he expects tens of 1000’s of attendees.
“We actually hope that Calgarians come out and rejoice 4th Road on Sunday,” she mentioned.
Foodie expertise on the pageant
This 12 months’s Lilac Competition expects to supply extra to these on the lookout for the foodie expertise, Rempel mentioned.
A few of the metropolis’s extra embellished eating places, breweries, meals vans and different native artisan distributors are bringing craft food and drinks to 4th Road.
Article content material
“Get able to strive new flavors, bask in native favorites or discover worldwide delicacies – from candy to savory,” mentioned Rempel.
Along with the eating places and meals vans, distributors can have a wide range of baked items, canned drinks, ice cream, bubble tea, scorching sauces, sweet, chocolate and different treats.
Reside leisure on seven phases
Reside music and dance will likely be carried out on seven completely different phases, two greater than common, and can function greater than 45 dance acts and a whole bunch of Alberta entertainers.
Dance performances are scheduled on two of the seven phases from teams comparable to Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, Pulse Studios, Capoeira Brazil Calgary, Sparq Productions and UniverseSoul Dance. The opposite 5 phases function new and returning artists together with Electrical Spiritual, Joseph Tennant and Matt Masters.
“We added a second dance stage. We have at all times had a dance stage at 18th Avenue that is actually targeted on multicultural and dance expressions, in addition to native studios. We added that second section as a result of it was so common,” Rempel mentioned.
Guests are inspired to take transit or bike to the pageant
Guests to the Lilac Competition are inspired to make use of transit or bicycles attributable to how busy the world will likely be.
“With so many individuals converging on one web site, we suggest that you just reap the benefits of the park and trip system and get off at Erlton/Stampede station,” mentioned Rempel.
The pageant can have bicycle parking at nineteenth Avenue.
These trying to park within the space ought to attempt to discover floor parking tons within the Beltline or neighboring areas.
sbabych@postmedia.com