A vintage Lantzville Fire Rescue truck cruises through the community during a parade at a previous Minetown Day event. (Submitted photo)

By Ian Holmes

family fun

Minetown Day takes over Lantzville’s village core

Aug 6, 2022 | 5:29 AM

LANTZVILLE — A large family-friendly event honouring Lantzville’s mining roots returns following scaled down offerings the previous two years.

The annual Minetown Day celebration on Saturday, Aug 6, kicks off with a pancake breakfast at the Legion from 8:20 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., while a majority of the activities happen at Huddlestone Park between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Seaside Community Society acting president Graham Savage said a parade, live music, games, a variety of vendors and food trucks will be on hand for the popular free event.

“It’s an event that has been very well supported by the community for many, many years — the focus is for kids’ events,” Savage told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A kids bike parade takes place between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

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Minetown Day classics such as the nail-hammering contest, chicken poop bingo and a watermelon eating contest will take place at the park.

Savage said their society and a hard-working sub-committee put in many hours of work organizing and executing Minetown Day.

“Many of the volunteers on this committee have been involved with Minetown Day for quite a long time, it’s a great example of volunteer effort.”

An annual grant from the District of Lantzville, along with numerous donations from the business community sustains the longstanding event.

Minetown Day moved from its usual early September date in order to take advantage of better weather, Savage noted.

Lantzville transitioned from sparsely populated farms to a dynamic small community with several businesses and services after Lantzville’s original mine opened in 1916.

Fraser Lantz bought the operation located beneath the current day municipal hall in 1920, leading to significant local economic development for the next several years.

“From what I understand he was an American, he didn’t actually live in the community, but he was the name behind the original coal mine,” Savage said.

Vehicular traffic on a portion of Lantzville Rd. will be restricted during Minetown Day.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes