Get Crazy - On New Year's Eve at the Craze!

So, there's a few things I love. My Intrepid Junior Bloggers, of course. My community. My shoes. And, oh,  how I love a good party! So, when an email popped into my inbox this week I was delighted. Why? Because it was the details for the upcoming annual New Year's Eve event at MacDonald Island - an event known as "The Craze".

I guess the last time I attended The Craze was two years ago. The youngest Intrepid Junior Blogger and I went, and it was a complete blast. From the magician to the balloons to everything else it was pure nonstop entertainment - and mayhem, which means naming it "The Craze" seems quite appropriate.

The Craze this year promises to be bigger and better than ever, people. I'm actually including the event schedule at the end of this post as there is just too much going on to mention it all, and I don't want to miss anything. Particular highlights for the Intrepid Junior Bloggers and I will be the opening of the new rock climbing wall (my youngest is already warming up for this, I think), the presence of super-stellar aerial artists The Aerial Angels (these women have become role models, mentors, and friends to my girls, and I cannot think of better women for the job in this age of unworthy "role models" like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan), and, of course, the finale fireworks.

There are three things I love most about The Craze. One, it's free. Yes, that's right, free. You can come and spend a day at MacDonald Island, bring the kids, and the events are free to attend. That's an amazing thing in this day and age where taking the kids to a movie requires a bank loan. Two, it's at MacDonald Island, which is rather like my second home and one of the facilities in this city of which I am proudest (and closest to my heart, although I continue to have a love/hate relationship with the elliptical machines in the fitness centre). And three - it's all about our community. It's a chance after the hectic holiday season to run into friends, hang out for a bit, chat, and ring in the New Year.

So, people, what are you up to on December 31st? You will find the Intrepid Junior Bloggers and I at MacDonald Island, gettin' crazy - and saying farewell to 2011 while we welcome 2012. We will be trying to decipher magic tricks, eating pancakes, getting our faces painted, checking out the rock wall (and if it's open to climbers I'm expecting my girls will be wanting to be first in line), watching Wipe-Out Mac Island, hanging with The Aerial Angels, and oohing and aahing over fireworks. I hope to see you there, Fort Mac - because frankly, if you miss this, you must be crazy.

"The Craze" - MacDonald Island, December 31st

Time	Event
10-11:30 am	Pancake Breakfast
10 am-6 pm	Welcome Desk & Bag Pickup
10 am-6 pm	Bag & Coat Check
11 am-5 pm	Bounce Houses
11 am-5:30 pm	Mixed Food, Vendors, & Circus Games
11 am-5:30 pm	Face Painting & Caricaturists presented by Julio Florez, Royal LePage True North Realty
11 am-5:30 pm	Children’s Crafts
11 am-5:30 pm	Circus Games
11 am-5:30 pm	Suncor Enchanted Forest Family Skate
Noon & 3 pm	Snowflake Circus
Noon-5 pm	Much Music Ice Dance Party presented by Mix 103.7 FM
Noon-5 pm	Prize Hut
Trials at 1 pm; Competition at 4 pm	WIPEOUT Mac Island presented by Country 93.3 FM & Rock 97.9 FM
1:30 pm	Press Conference and Ribbon Cutting: K-Rock Climbing Wall
2:30 pm	Noralta Figure Skating Club Show
5:15 pm-5:45 pm	Grand Finale & ATCO Gas Balloon Drop (includes Magician, Hoop Dancers, & Aerial Acrobatics Show)
6:05 pm	Fireworks