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Ukee Days to mark 40th birthday this weekend

Ukee Days is turning 40 this year - although different parts of it have been introduced at different times. It's the 32nd year for logger sports, for example.

Salmon Oysters.Squaredance

Check out the Ukee Night Market's browsing by the Village Green and take in Friday's salmon and oyster barbecue at the Village Green. Look for a free community square dance with caller Anna Louise and the Slack Tide String Band.

Kids Activities Look for everything from the midway to petting zoo to the RCMP Speed Trap throw. Sunday is Bullhead Derby 9:30 Saturday at Small Craft Harbour, the Glee performance 12 noon Sunday, Kid-Zone, Mad Science Show, Tiger Lily Petting Zoo, Kidzone bouncy slides and castles. And remember to

enter the Logger Sports, age-related competitions fun for everyone.

Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for Foodbank on the Edge, 7-10 a.m. UAC Hall, Saturday AND Sunday. Wake up and smell the coffee! (And the 'cakes!)

Ukee Days Parade

10:15 a.m. Saturday on Peninsula (see road closure notices). Bring canned goods and non-perishable grocery items to share with the Food Bank -also a canned good is a suggested donation for getting to ridealong in the parade, as per Mayor Bill Irving. Watch out for the giant octopus!

Wife-carrying contest An international phenomenon comes to Ukee Days this weekend. Added to all the fun expected at the 40th Anniversary Ukee Days, the Wife-Carrying Contest, an Eastern European sensation, is sweeping the West Coast.

Sunday, 2:30 p.m. be there. You don't even have to be married - just have one load-toting "husband" and one "wife" to be carried. Participants are eligible "regardless of married status or gender," said Ucluelet recreation programmer KK Hodder.

"The winners will win some awesome prizes," she said.

The winners will also be crowned this year's Ukee Days royalty.

Nail, Sail, Bail NAIL, SAIL, BAIL is back for another year. Teams of 4 are given a variety of materials and two hours to build a seaworthy vessel -it has to float, and you have to paddle it. Saturday, the building

starts at 2:30 with launch at 4:30. $20 per team -Bring your own handsaws and hammers. Sign up at Windsor Plywood or the Ucluelet Community Centre. For info, call Jonny Ferguson at (250) 726-5006.

Jello-eating contest

Think there's always room for Jello? This one's for you, Saturday at 2p.m. You can always work it off at the Hula hoop making event at 5 ...

Officials Poker Tourney

1-5 p.m. Saturday with finals on Sunday -for those who'd like to see if they know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

Logger sports The traditional logger's sports events (which include fun participation for kids as well) will include the Canadian Championships for Jack Jill and Open Obstacle Pole competitions.

come in -this is on Marine Drive (see related closures).

A half-pipe will be set up at the fairgrounds, something different -helmets mandatory.

Beer gardens For those who wish to imbibe (responsibly), think outside the beer garden.

"The Beer Gardens are different. We're still going to have beer gardens, but you are now able to take your beer outside of the actual garden itself (around the fairgrounds)," said Ucluelet special events coordinator Nicola Illsley.

open mic at 4:15 on Saturday.

Music Festival "We have an awesome music festival lineup this year - I'm really excited about it," Hodder said.

The lineup includes groups like Smalltown Empire (Friday), Myles Morrison Big Beach, High Tide Collective, San Felix, Quoia (Saturday) and Slack Tide String Band, Poor Pistols and Carolyn Mark (Sunday).

The Stamp of History The Ucluelet Historical Society is bringing in postmark collector and history buff

Tim Woodland. The Vancouver man has amassed a collection of rare postmarks from the earliest postmarks from the West Coast -from post offices that no longer exist, in places you may not have even heard of. He will appear at the UHS tent at the fairground on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust.

Road closures There will be road closures for Ukee Days on Friday, July 25 from 1-9 p.m. for the Salmon Oyster BBQ. The closures will be on Fraser Lane adjacent to the Village Green. There will be a road closure Sat., July 26 from 10-10:45 p.m. on Peninsula Road from Matterson Drive to Sea Plane Base Road Matterson Drive

from Marine Drive to Peninsula Road for the Ukee Days parade. Marine Drive from Cynamoka Rd to west of Black Rock

until midnight for MusicFest. Visit Ukee Days