Cooper’s Carnival Draws Thousands

A couple thousand Airdronians converged on an expanse of green space in the west side community of Cooper’s Crossing on Saturday.

Airdrie’s Cooper’s Carnival Draws Thousands
Story By Chris Simnett, Airdrie Echo
Website: Featured in the Airdrie Echo September 19, 2012

A couple thousand Airdronians converged on an expanse of green space in the west side community of Cooper’s Crossing on Saturday.

Children bounced and played on inflatable carnival rides, had their faces painted, tattoos airbrushed and tried their hand at pottery.

The poignant floating lanterns lit up the waterway next to the park as the sun dropped behind the western horizon and the evening was capped with a fireworks display.

The Cooper’s Twilight Festival was a massive success and a great way to help kick off ARTember, a 17-day arts festival in Airdrie.

Organizers Helen Shields and Paul Gerla of Westmark Holdings, the developer of the Cooper’s Crossing neighbourhood, expected about 2,000 people at the carnival and weren’t disappointed.

“Anytime you have fireworks you know that could draw a huge crowd,” Gerla, development manager for Coopers Crossing, said as people swirled around him in the early hours of the festival.

Because the carnival was held in conjunction with ARTember, organizers enlisted the help of Creative Airdrie to bring an artistic element.

Musicians from SLAM-opening band Bone Cold Mama, Al Caissie and headliners Sharp Hill – all Airdrie acts, played for an appreciated crowd on the ATCO Stage.

As well, local artisans displayed their wares and painted myriad faces and airbrushed hundreds of tattoos.

“We wanted to bring some artistic elements here,” said Shields, organizer of the carnival.

The Bert Church High School Band was on hand selling glow sticks to raise money for an upcoming trip to China and the Airdrie 3016 Army Cadets provided crowd-control and information to Carnival goers.

“This is just our way to help start ARTember,” said Gerla, “and to show our appreciation for living and working in Airdrie.”

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