It promises to be quite the gathering when Prince George converges on Exhibition Park for the Olympic torch celebration on Friday evening.
Dancers, singers, acrobats and an Olympic-size fireworks show will all be part of the fun which begins at 5:45 p.m. on the main stage on the south side of the Prince George gymnastics building.
Local entertainment, including the DP Todd band, Tapestry Choir and Lheidli T'enneh drummers will precede the arrival of the flame at 7 p.m. That's when local national junior alpine ski team member Alix Wells will carry the torch up onto the stage and light the Olympic cauldron.
Following that will be sponsored entertainment from RBC and Coca Cola and then the fireworks.
Parking will be available at Exhibiton Park for those who drive there, but everyone's encouraged to park their cars and trucks at either Pine Centre or Spruceland and take free-of-charge transit to the site. Starting at 5 p.m. and continuing until 9 p.m. buses will be picking up passengers every 15 minutes.
If you do choose to drive to the site, bring some friends. You'll be asked to use the outer parking lots closest to Ospika Boulvard or the aquatic centre or soccer field parking areas. Parking for the disabled will also be available in the outer lot, close to the PGX entrance gates.
For other users:
- Parking for Kin Centre users will be available at the north end of Kin 1 and Kin 2. There will be no parking available at the south end of Kin 3.
- Parking for Kin Centre users and gymnastic patrons will be available on the north side of the P.G. Gymnastics building.
- Parking for livestock arena users is available next to the livestock arena.
- Parking for ice oval users will be accessible through the north gate next to Kin 2. Parking will be available in the lot near the main entrance to the ice oval.
- There will be no parking available in the area between the gymnastics building and CN
Centre, nor in the area near the front entrance to CN Centre. This area is for pedestrians
only, and the torch relay convoy.
