Coaldale candy parade, like the town, is on the grow
By Lethbridge Herald on August 12, 2025.
Herald Photo by Joe Manio
Child spectators on 20th Avenue scramble for candy tossed toward them during the 2025 Coaldale Candy Parade Saturday.Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Coaldale Candy Parade has been running for over 50 years and was back better than ever on the weekend, featuring bagpipes, horses, antiques tractors, vehicles of all sizes and (of course) kilos and kilos of candy tossed to eager kids and spectators lining the parade route.
The theme for this year’s parade was “Proudly Canadian – Locally Driven.” The parade is part of the three-day Coaldale Summer Festival (Summer Fest) which is currently in its fourth year, having officially launched in 2022.
“Summer Fest is a true reflection of community spirit. From the people who attended to the teams and volunteers who pulled it together,” said Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn. “This event showed once again why Coaldale is such a special place to live, visit and call home.
“And to all the parents…I apologize if your children were bouncing off the walls from too much sugar after the parade. Our Candy Parade certainly lived up to its name this year!”
During the last decade both the size of the parade and the town have grown. Coaldale has seen above-average growth compared to other municipalities in the region. In 2024, the population was 9,433, and it increased by 1.43 per cent year-over-year and 5.75 per cent in the last five years.
Its growth is attributed to factors like increased housing options, better services, and employment opportunities.
“The number of people choosing to make Coaldale their home clearly shows that we are doing things right,” said Van Rijn. “Summer Fest reflects that momentum, offering three days of music, food, family fun, and community pride that brought together long-time residents and new neighbours alike.”
Hundreds of local residents and businesses participated in this year’s parade, as well as representatives from the surrounding communities including Lethbridge, Taber, and the village of Baron.
In a show of inter-municipal support. Former Lethbridge MP Rick Casson and wife Jeanene were the honorary parade marshals.
Lethbridge Mayor Blain Hyggen and members of City Council participated and tossed their share of candy.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of Coaldale parade and annual event,” says Taber Mayor Andrew Prokop. “We get invited all the time and we’re great friends with Coaldale. Our entire council comes up to many events here, of course, and Coaldale is going to join us in Taber at the Corn Fest parade coming up on the 21st.”
The thousands of spectators who lined the parade route included both locals of all ages and visitors from around the region who came to enjoy the parade and the second day of Summer Fest which immediately followed.
The festival featured a community barbecue, food trucks and family-friendly activities galore. A show-and-shine lined 20th Avenue in front of the Civic Square Building. Inside the building there was face painting, an exotic animals meet and greet by Petland Lethbridge, and the nearby Alberta Birds of Prey Centre brought in some of its birds for its own meet and greet.
“The candy parade grows bigger every year,” said 39-year-old lifelong resident Darlene Kreft. “I think a big part of it is our booming industrial sector. More companies are choosing our town to set up shop. More business, more floats…more candy! I’m always in awe at the size of the crowds that come to our town to join in the celebration.”
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