Last Wednesday was Canada Day. I really think they need to shorten the name to Canaday, since as-is it sounds like it has a built-in stutter.
We went to the fireworks display in downtown Kitchener. It was our first time going. The previous few years we went to the drone show in Waterloo, which is their equivalent. I had been avoiding going to the Kitchener show, as the past few years I'd seen articles about young people shooting fireworks at bystanders.
Reactions always seemed toned down. I would see comments talking about how "irresponsible" it was for them to do this. I'm not usually one to avoid areas that are viewed as dangerous, or to assume trouble from any particular group, but this seemed like a predictable, reoccurring instance of fairly significant violence that could easily be avoided.
It's also not usually difficult to get Kitchenerites angry and exaggerative about a local issue. But for some reason, in this particular case, it was just mumbles about irresponsibility. Isn't getting shot with an explosive pretty dangerous?
Lee-Anne and my brother wanted to go, and just like everyone else, they didn't seem worried about it. So I reconciled myself with my fate and we went.
There was actually a local fireworks ban in place because of this issue. Although, based on how many we saw being set off on our walk over, this effort hadn't proven totally effective.
The show was supposed to start at 10:30, but it didn't wind up happening until like, 11:45. It was preceded by live music from The Last Tiger, which had proven to be a pretty good draw for the crowd.
Despite the place being crammed by the time we got there, somehow we found a pretty central viewing spot. I don't think it's good practice to do too much recording while at events like this, as it leads to living through a screen, but I did snag this pic just to kind of show how optimally we were positioned.
At one point, fire erupted from each of the side buildings. First in bursts, and shortly as a sustained stream. This is what really got a reaction from people, and it was intense enough that one could feel the temperature rise. I think it's a little funny that with all our advanced pyrotechnics that can make the sky glitter in every colour and send streams of light curling over a crowd, what really makes people pay attention is just a big old bunch of fire.
The turnout was impressive. Much more significant than Waterloo's. Part of me was proud that my city is more ready to come out, have fun and be together. But it was also a little overwhelming and I probably wouldn't come back.
But the reason is the crowd, not because anyone got hit by a firework. I realised once we got there that I'd always heard about shenanigans happening at Victoria Park. I assumed that's where the display was, but it's actually always been at Kitchener City Hall. So I had imagined people shooting into the crowd, when in reality it was mostly at each other and I guess sometimes at random park goers. Still bad, but we weren't in as much danger as I'd thought.
Somebody did pass out near us, though. Also there was a clown.
Then on the weekend we had the Cherry Festival. It's an annual event held in a smaller local park in our neighbourhood. Not quite as grand as Canada Day, but still pretty significant. It included the sale of cherry products, as well as some food trucks, stands with local artists, live music, carnival rides, professional wrestling matches, and an antique car show.
I probably mentioned this joke last year. But sometimes I like to say that, since Cherry Park is on Park Street, they missed out by not naming it Park Park. Then at the Cherry Festival they have antique cars parked in it. This could have been the Park Park Park.
Lee-Anne's parents came down for the event. It was raining slightly but the turnout was still pretty good. My brother came later, but we'd left at that point. We all bought some cherry stuff, and Lee-Anne and I got a little rock goose to put in the window with our succulents.
