Community dance party to celebrate 40 years of marriage

Kevin & Barbara Phillips will be hosting a community dance party at the Rotary Park Band shell on Saturday, July 25th at 4:30 -10 pm.

Community dance party to celebrate 40 years of marriage Published 1:19 pm Monday, July 13, 2026 Kevin & Barbara Phillips will be hosting a community dance party at the Rotary Park Band shell on Saturday, July 25th at 4:30 -10 pm. It is a potluck picnic so if you want to join us, you might want to bring along a reusable water bottle, a folding chair or blanket (optional) and some easy sharable food. They are celebrating 10 years of living in the Cranbrook area and 40 years of marriage.

The invitation is open to the community. The Mud Puddle Productions Theatre Matriarchs — Kathy Simon and Rhonda Sheridan — are currently helping us organize this event. Jamie Neve (Mud Puddle sound tech-guy) and his wife Jean (Mud Puddle costume mistress) from the last November’s production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas are also a part of the planning nucleus.

Second Fiddle String Jam, from Blairmore, Alberta will open the band shell with music at 4:30 pm Local DJ Sean Swinwood will spin tunes about the dinner hour and there will be a few open mic opportunities throughout the evening. T3 & the Sonics will be playing about 7 pm until closing at 10 pm. There is an earlier afternoon component will be happening at 2pm a few blocks away at Christchurch Anglican under the leadership of local priest Kevin Arndt.

It’s a renewal of Kevin and Barbara’s backdated and simple promise they made over 40 years ago. At that time, they chose to elope to Nelson, New Zealand with no friends and family in the mix, catching their respective families off guard. This time 2026 they are collecting as many of their special friends and family from near and far to landmark the long-term challenges they have struggled with and the joys, they faced together and eventually with their children During the Christchurch Anglican renewal service, the artists performing will be Rollie Cummins and Steve Knowles of the The Two Ticks and pianist Ellen Bailey in the sanctuary.

Later in the Centennial Hall the Dean Smith Jazz Trio will play. Seating in the small historic church is limited and as a result, Kevin and Barbara are giving first priority to the out-of-town family and guests. However, if that aspect interests you, please let Barb know at 250-919-7166 or email at mudpuddlebarbara@shaw.ca

The restrictions are existing due to legal fire code and the human desire to breathe easily indoors on a warm summer day. The last weeks of planning will determine the exact count of how many out-of-town guests confirm which will reveal how many local friends can be fit into that picture.