3 minute read
August 1963 to 2023: 60 years since the first Sea Fair
BLAST FROM THE PAST
CAROLYN SMITH
As the summer season is in full swing, some residents of Powell River may reminisce on the days of a midway, of a carnival, community parade and family activities spread across Willingdon Beach. The days of Sea Fair may be gone, but they are not forgotten. However, looking back at its origin the festival looked much different than the festival’s final years.
Dating back 60 years, the first annual Powell River Sea Fair was sponsored by the Westview Rotary Club and took place for one day on August 10th, 1963 in the parking lot of Westview Boat Harbour. Initially, the Rotary Club looked for an event that would bring the community together, and used the idea of celebrating the sea to do so.
To increase tourism for the upcoming event, invitations were sent out to the Navy, Air Force, and various coastal yacht clubs to come enjoy the festivities. In response, the U.S. Navy First Fleet Commander ordered the USS Weiss to partake in the day, allowing Powell River citizens to tour the vessel. Individual sailboats and yachts even travelled up and down the coast to reach the Westview Boat Harbour and view the festivities from the sea.
The celebration began on Friday the 9th with the arrival of the USS Weiss and a Navy dance held at the Willingdon Arena. On the 10th, the official day of the Sea Fair, the celebrations included a parade featuring the Powell River Pipe Band and Miss Powell River, carnival activities, a RCAF Air Show, Scottish dancers, sky diving, and a traditional Indigenous salmon barbecue.
The star at that first Sea Fair was the RCAF air show. Low, high speed fly-overs took place right above the harbour, much to the delight and startlement of attendees. The show even included an appearance of a Neptune aircraft, a popular maritime patrol craft of the time. With the first year a success, Sea Fair went on to be a beloved annual event for the community of Powell River.
