Get ready to say ‘Hi Neighbour’

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This article was published 24/05/2022 (1525 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TRANSCONA

It’s been a couple of years, but Park City residents and visitors alike can once again look forward to taking part in the annual Hi Neighbour Festival.

“A lot of people were wondering if there would be a festival. We weren’t sure if there would be, either,” admitted Ray Ulasy, chair of the Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival Inc.’s board of directors. The annual festival, which typically runs the first weekend of June each year, was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Early April, we finally got the green light to move forward. We got everybody together quickly, it was a bit of a shotgun start.”

Despite the late start, from Fri., June 3 to Sun., June 5, downtown Transcona will once again be transformed in a family friendly midway, complete with rides, vendors, games, and more.

“Select Shows are bringing in more rides and tickets games for the midway, rides more appealing to the younger crowd,” Ulasy said. “It’s a great weekend lined up, not just for kids but adults, too.”

As always, the streets of Transcona will be rocking during Hi Neighbour. On Friday evening, local band Big Top Radio will perform at the mainstage at Transcona Centennial Square. On Saturday, calypso artist Lyberal will warm the crowd up for headliners Harlequin.

Local businesses and community organizations will also be out in full force. The Transcona Legion Branch # 7, for example, will be serving pancakes on Sat., June 4 from 8 to 11 a.m., then cooking up burgers at noon.

One big change from previous iterations is that this year, the Hi Neighbour Festival will not be holding a parade.

“It’s hard to social distance with a parade,” Ulasy said. “COVID is still a thing, we’re very conscious of that. As much fun as the parade is, the festival is the cornerstone.”

The board hopes to bring back the parade next year, bigger and better.

Another thing that should be back this year, better than ever, is Hi Neighbour Sam, who was removed from his perch on Regent Avenue just west of Plessis Road in December 2021 to undergo a major makeover. The Hi Neighbour Festival budgeted up to $23,000 for Sam’s makeover, using funds raised over the years, along with some help from a $6,000 community incentive grant.

For more information, visit transconahineighbourfestival.ca