Snow is melting, the scents of spring are in the air, and the 45th annual Griz Days festival is right around the corner.
Events in Fernie are going to be taking place from March 4-6, with the ‘Griz Goes Wild Parade’ set to hit the streets at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (March 5). That means road closures and modifications in the downtown core while festivities take place.
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce has detailed the parade route and temporary road closures in a press release.
In light of events at Station Square, 1st Ave. will be closed from 5th St. to 6th St. all day on Saturday, with limited vehicle access to that area from Thursday (March 3) to Sunday (March 6).
“Businesses and the public are asked to avoid parking in the Station Square area of the downtown core for the duration of the festival.”
On Saturday, events will start in Station Square at 2 p.m. with ‘Junior Griz Training Grounds’. At that time, the City of Fernie will begin closing 2nd. Ave. for the parade.
The parade route, which is outlined in a map, will mean the closure of 2nd. Ave. from the corner of 8th St. (outside Barkside) to the corner of 5th St. (outside the Fernie Museum), from 2 p.m. as the parade is prepared. The parade route will turn right along 5th St. to 3rd Ave., and then turn right again on to 3rd. Ave., which will be closed from 5th St. to 8th St.
“The parade route has been modified this year to support physical distancing along the entirety of the route, and to account for feedback from the community in previous years. These full closures will be in effect from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the parade commencing at 6:30 p.m.”
“Please note that access to Save On Foods will be via their parking lot entrance on 8th Street for the duration of the closures. Parade floats and participants in the parade will gather from 5:30 p.m. along 8th Street (between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue).”
“We thank the public for their cooperation in keeping these routes clear for the parade, and for abiding by all signage and direction given by City of Fernie staff and Griz Days volunteers,” the press release reads.
READ MORE: Fernie’s Griz Days back again for 2022
READ MORE: Griz Days to go ahead in 2021, will ‘look different’: Chamber
@fishynewswatch
josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.