Stirling Settler Days celebrates heritage and history July 17-19

Posted on July 10, 2025 by admin

By Kristine Jean
Southern Alberta Newspapers

It’s summer and the Village of Stirling is ready to welcome residents and visitors to its annual Settler Days celebration.  

The multi-day event runs from Thursday to Saturday, July 17-19 and will feature a variety of activities including a movie in the park, a craft fair, baseball tournament and fireworks. 

Village of Stirling CAO Scott Donselaar said the annual event is a great way to welcome visitors and showcase the growing community in southern Alberta. 

“Stirling was founded in 1899 and we have a celebration of the founding of the village,” said Donselaar. “It’s a celebration of our heritage and history and we do it over the course of a three-day free event for anyone who wants to attend.”

Day one kicks off with ‘music on the veranda’ at the Michelsen Farmstead, a historic facility run and maintained by the Stirling Historical Society. Local performers and bands will entertain guests while enjoying a hot dog dinner hosted by the historical society. 

 “With music on the veranda we have an artisan show where people demonstrate skills, so if we have quilters or people who make jewellery or painters, they’re able to showcase how they do things in their work,” said Donselaar. “Then we do an old-time farming demonstration as well.” 

On day two, Friday July 18, a number of community service groups are hosting several events and there are a couple of other family activities planned, noted Donselaar.   

“We have the ball tournament start (on Friday) and we also do a movie in the park,” he said. “So we use one of our ball diamonds, we get a massive movie screen and we project the movie on it.”

The final day of celebrations will include a car show, an outdoor craft fair, and fireworks. 

The three-day event has grown over the years and the Village of Stirling’s community events committee helps plan and coordinate the annual summertime celebration.

“They put a lot of time and energy into it and it’s a village sponsored event so the village pays for everything – outside of some of the meals where service groups are serving meals as a fundraiser – all the activities are free,” explained Donselaar. “It’s a great way for us to pull the community together and allow people to meet their neighbours.”

At this year’s Settler Days celebration, there will be something for everyone. 

“You can’t attend Settler Days without finding something that you’ll enjoy,” said Donselaar. “On the Saturday night we wrap it all up with a big street dance out in front of our pool and a fireworks show. We close the road, get a DJ and let everybody have some fun.”

For more information visit the Village of Stirling Facebook page.