TORQUAY — The village of Torquay will celebrate its lengthy history during its centennial celebration from June 27-29.
Festivities will kick off with a registration pick-up and socializing at 4 p.m. Pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs will be served at the Torquay 50-and-over Club at 5 p.m. People can also watch slideshows while enjoying popcorn and refreshments, and donuts and coffee will also be available.
A slow-pitch tournament will start on the 27th and continue into the 28th.
The busiest day will be June 28. A complimentary pancake breakfast will happen at the Torquay Community Centre.
Activities starting at 10:00 a.m. will include a children's parade, in which young people are encouraged to walk, ride or pedal the route, and decorate to show their Torquay spirit. Also happening that morning will be a car, antique tractor and bicycle show, a kids' zone with a bouncy castle, a craft tent and library on location event, an activity with the Radius Credit Union, and a junior firefighter challenge.
A barbecue lunch will be served, with proceeds going to the Torquay and District Fire Department, and an evening vendor market will be outside the Torquay Community Centre at 5 p.m.
The community centre will be a hub of activity, starting at 1:30 p.m. with a performance by the Two Stepp musical duo. The Torquay centennial program will be at 4 p.m., and a catered supper by Tammy's Homecooked Meals will be at 5 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church will host a polka mass at 7 p.m., with a quilt display and refreshments to follow.
The Johner Brothers and the Johner Boys will perform an outdoor concert at the community centre at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for around 10 p.m., between the second and third sets of the concert.
The centennial will wrap up June 29 with a 10 a.m. service at Trinity Lutheran Church, with brunch to follow. An outdoor gospel concert featuring the Daae Family will be at 1 p.m.
Event chairwoman Cindy Daae said planning for the event is coming together well. The committee started planning in April 2024 and they're now in crunch time, working on last-minute and other details.
The catered supper is the only event that required people to pre-register, and she said all 300 tickets were sold before the poster was released.
"We feel like … we've had a lot of interest," she said.
People who couldn't get a ticket for the supper can purchase food at other locations.
"Everyone is welcome for the program. You might not have gotten tickets for the catered supper, because the catered supper will follow, but people can still come for the program, and there will be chairs set up," she said.
Lots of former residents are expected to come home, and Daae said most who registered for the supper used to live in the village.
The village was incorporated in December 1923 and the first village council meeting was the following month. Daae noted the 100-year milestone snuck up on the village, and there was confusion about when the centennial occurred.
"When our committee got together, we realized the years went by, and we're … only a year off."
An is open for merchandise sales until July 6. A cookbook has been created with nearly 400 recipes.
"It is featuring people from the past and present … so it was an online submission. We got a lot of recipes in there, and we're showcasing Torquay's history through the cookbook," she said.
