Celebrations Planned Around Country This Week

The air looks to be festive this upcoming week, with a variety of celebrations planned by North Americans and others in several parts of the country.

Tomorrow is Canada Day, and the Canadian Club will be hosting its annual Canada Day picnic at the Cervecería Costa Rica grounds in Alajuela, northwest of San José (TT, June 23). On the program are games, raffles, Mountie photo ops and an apple pie-baking contest.

Admission costs $2,500 ($5) for adults and ¢1,000 ($2) for kids; proceeds go toward the club’s charity efforts. For info, call 232-7628.

Sunday will see celebrations in two locations outside the Central Valley.

In the northwestern province of Guanacaste, the Do It Foundation will be hosting the fifth International Independence Festival, featuring a horseshoe tournament, volleyball, carnival games and a fireworks show. A donation of ¢1,000 ($2) will be requested as an admission fee; proceeds from the event will benefit the Girl and Boy Scouts Group 50 of Liberia. The event starts at noon and will be held 650 meters west of Laguna Catfish Farm and Restaurant, on the road from Comunidad to Playas del Coco. For info, call 667-0667.

The same day on the southern Pacific coast, the annual Fourth of July Benefit for Dominical Lifeguards will be held at Hotel Roca Verde, starting at 1 p.m. Area businesses are donating the food, drinks and raffle prizes, with all proceeds going to the lifeguards. Admission is free. For info, call 787-0130.

The American Colony Committee’s 46th annual U.S. Independence Day Picnic will take place this year on the day itself, July 4, from 8 a.m. to noon at Cervecería Costa Rica (TT, June 9). Free to U.S. citizens and their immediate families, the event features rides, games, entertainment and a lot of hot dogs and beer. A flag-raising ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Proof of citizenship will be required. For info, call 233-3296.