Crossfield Elks Demolition Derby — Warm Day, Busy Pit, Good Chaos

 

 

A couple of months back I headed up to the Crossfield Rodeo Grounds for the annual Crossfield Elks #416 Demolition Derby. It was a proper late-summer day — warm, dry, and clear — and the place was packed. Tents lined the edge of the pit, the crowd was thick along the barriers, and the cars were already looking thoroughly used before the heats even really got going.

The photo shows one of the full-size entries sitting in the dirt under the red-and-white tents, with the usual mix of spectators, high-vis volunteers, and the general dusty energy that comes with a local demo derby. Heats included the usual small-car and large-car action, plus the side events that make these things fun: lawnmower racing and the human mud race that closed things out. One car even ended up on its roof — the kind of moment that gets the whole crowd leaning in.

All proceeds go back into the Crossfield community (youth programs, scholarships, local causes), which is part of what keeps the event feeling like a proper small-town day rather than just a demolition show. It was busy, loud, and exactly the kind of unscripted local motorsport that makes the drive north of Calgary worthwhile.

I’ve got a short clip from trackside in this post, plus the full walkthrough video on the KassDays channel if you want the longer version of the hits, steam, and mud: https://youtu.be/PX5NcGl9LlY

If you’ve been to the Crossfield derby (or any of the other local ones), what’s the best hit or side event you’ve seen? Drop it in the comments.

Pumpkins After Dark at Canada Olympic Park – KassDays Walk-Through

KassDays went out to Pumpkins After Dark at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park to film the Calgary show. What we found was a self-paced outdoor walk lined with thousands of hand-carved pumpkins, lit from inside and set into themed displays along roughly a one-kilometre route.

The displays mix classic Halloween figures with larger scenes—dinosaurs, dragons, pop-culture pieces, and a few oversized photo spots, including a pumpkin throne that saw plenty of people stopping for pictures. Lighting and sound run along the path, but the event stays deliberately family-friendly: no jump scares, no actors waiting in the dark. Live pumpkin-carving demos happen near the entrance, and food trucks are on site if you want something seasonal while you walk.

Most people take one to two hours to move through at their own speed. Parking is free, and tickets are sold by timed entry, so booking ahead is the safer play on busier nights. The show runs on select evenings from late September through October 31.

It made for a straightforward, photogenic night out—creative enough to hold attention, calm enough for mixed groups, and easy to recommend if you want something festive without the haunted-house volume. The full walk-through is up on the KassDays YouTube channel.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/ntSrhH1RBlA  

More details and tickets: calgary.pumpkinsafterdark.com

Fridge leaking water on the floor? Water Valve Issues?

Fridge leaking water on the floor?

Quick DIY fix video just went live. In it I replace a failing water inlet valve on a Frigidaire (same basic steps work on most brands — Whirlpool, GE, Kenmore, LG, Samsung, etc.).

A bad valve or cracked housing is a common reason fridges leak. Swapping it yourself can save you a service call and a few hundred dollars.

What you’ll see:
- Shut off water + unplug
- Access the valve at the back
- Note the connections (photos help)
- Install the new one
- Leak test before pushing the fridge back

Full video here:  Fix the Water Valve on your Fridge

Always unplug the fridge and turn the water off first. Use at your own risk.

Thanks so much if you’ve tipped or supported on Ko-fi — it really helps keep these practical repair videos coming. Got a fridge leak story of your own? Drop a comment, I’d love to hear it.

Kass  
KassDays

 

All Through the House in Okotoks — A Packed Antique Stop

This Video will not go Live until October 28th, I pegged the wrong video, sorry for the confusion.

Drive around behind the Okotoks Cinemas (enter off North Railway Street) and you reach All Through the House. From the outside it already looks the part: weathered wood, string lights, flower barrels, and the big antiques sign. Inside is a tightly packed warehouse of vendors and shelves that take real time to work through.

Narrow aisles hold unique vintage items, old advertising, rare collectibles, glowing uranium glassware, classic jukeboxes, and an unusual vintage taxi phone. Outside you’ll find old AGT and Telus pay phones mixed in with the salvage. It’s the kind of place where one aisle leads to another and you keep finding things you didn’t know you were looking for.

The shop runs with over fifty in-house vendors offering antiques, vintage, rustic, retro, and up-cycled pieces. There’s a large hardware section, Fusion Mineral Paint, barnwood, and a yard full of doors, windows, wagons, and rusty treasures. Workshops and seasonal markets are part of the regular calendar.

Full walkthrough is on the KassDays channel: https://youtu.be/5M4A_xTzjVY

Address is Bldg 185, 100 Stockton Avenue, Okotoks. Hours are generally 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily — check ahead for holidays. Easy stop if you’re anywhere near Okotoks and in the mood for a dig.

See you on the road.  

Kass  

KassDays

Night Glow in High River | Roaring Burners on the Field

The Friday night Balloon Glow at the Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival does not launch. The balloons stay on the ground at the Wallaceville site in High River, tethered, and the burners do the work.

Crews start with cold-air fans, walk the envelopes open, then fire the burners until the baskets tip upright. The field stays closed while that happens. Once the lines are clear, the barriers come down and you walk in among them. On a cool September night the heat off the baskets is real, and when several burners hit at once the sound is closer to a dragon than a propane torch.

Pilots come from across Canada, the northern U.S., and further. The Glow itself is free, no ticket, usually Friday evening. Flight days around it are weather-dependent. Check heritageinninternationalballoonfestival.com before you drive.

The walk-through, from the fan start to the raw burner audio once the crowd is on the field, is up on the KassDays channel:

Balloon Glow High River

High River is a short run south of Calgary. Get there before the barriers drop if you want to watch the uprighting.

See you on the road.  
Kass

 

Demolition Derby Crossfield Alberta | Watch the Cars Battle

 

 

It’s all fun and games until someone knocks a car over

That line pretty much sums up our afternoon at the Crossfield Elks Demolition Derby, about half an hour north of Calgary. Heavy hits, steaming radiators, lawnmower racing, a human mud race, and one car that didn’t stay on its wheels.

A new YouTube Short with the best of that chaos is live on the KassDays channel now. The full video is already up if you want the whole story now.

Watch the complete video here:
https://youtu.be/PX5NcGl9LlY

 The Short (live Sunday morning):
https://youtube.com/shorts/508fh7QP1sc

Give the Short a like and a share when it lands, then jump into the long video for the rest of the afternoon trackside.

Thanks for following along.

Kass

Location: Crossfield, Alberta

Mini Moto Olympics Hits Calgary – Chaos Mode: Activated

 

 

Mister Wonder Bread has officially landed in Calgary, Alberta… and that can only mean one thing: the Mini Moto Olympics are in full swing.

We’re talking small pit bikes and wild custom builds getting thrown into a parking lot packed wall-to-wall with orange cones. High-speed weaving, sketchy slides, full-send battles, and the occasional spectacular tip-over. Pure, unfiltered mini moto mayhem.

In between the cone carnage we took a quick detour to the local Show & Shine, where the Calgary crew brought out some seriously unique custom small-bike builds. Creative, weird, and properly cool.

Massive thanks to the local Calgary bike shop for hosting such a fun community day and bringing everyone together.

The full video is up on the KassDays channel now.
Come for the chaos, stay for the customs.

See you at the cones. 🏍️🏆

 

Standing Face-to-Face with a Giant at the Reynold Museum in Wetaskiwin

The 1929 Bucyrus-Erie 200-B at Reynolds Museum

There’s something special about rolling through the outdoor grounds of the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin in an old classic car, the driver pointing out machines that once moved mountains of earth. On that driven tour you come around a bend and suddenly there it is — the 1929 Bucyrus-Erie 200-B stripping shovel. Yellow and red, weather-worn, towering over the prairie grass. Even from a distance it feels enormous. Up close it is almost unbelievable.

This is no ordinary piece of old equipment. The 200-B is a stripping shovel, designed to sit on top of a coal seam and peel away the rock and soil so the coal below could be reached. Built in 1929 by Bucyrus-Erie, only a handful of these machines were ever made, and this one is the last remaining example of the four that once operated in North America. That alone makes it a rare survivor.

It started its working life in the United States, then made its way north in the early 1950s from a mine in Colstrip, Montana. Once in Alberta it spent the rest of its career at the Roselyn Mine (sometimes called the Sheerness or Western Dominion Mine) southeast of Hanna. Originally it travelled on railway tracks laid along the coal seam. Later it was converted to the crawler tracks you see today, giving it more freedom to move. Powered by electricity, it needed a long trailing cable and a portable transformer that had to be relocated whenever the machine reached the end of its reach.

At roughly 335 tonnes and capable of taking a five-cubic-metre bite with each pass, the 200-B was actually considered one of the smaller stripping shovels of its era. Standing beside it, “small” is not the word that comes to mind. The house alone is the size of a small building, the boom reaches high into the Alberta sky, and the whole machine still radiates the quiet authority of something built to work hard for decades.

Seeing it from the seat of a classic car on the museum’s driven tour makes the experience even better. You’re not just looking at a static display — you’re rolling past living industrial history on the same grounds where these giants now rest. The Reynolds Museum has collected an impressive outdoor coal-mining exhibit, and the 200-B is one of its true stars.

Next time you’re in the Wetaskiwin area, take the tour if you can. There’s nothing quite like looking up at a nearly century-old machine that once carved its way through the prairie and realizing just how much power and ingenuity went into keeping Alberta’s coal mines running. The 200-B may no longer dig, but it still commands attention — a yellow-and-red reminder of the days when machines this big truly ruled the landscape.

Show Dogs & That Dog-Show Feeling

AKC Dog Show in Okotoks Alberta

I’ve been going to dog shows for years now. Not every single one — life doesn’t always line up that way — but enough that the sound of barking in the distance, the smell of fresh grass mixed with a little bit of rain, and the sight of a perfectly groomed dog trotting around the ring still make me smile every time.

That is me, quite a few years back with my Greyhound Fancy in the picture here, btw. 

I don’t even have a dog of my own right now. That doesn’t mean I love them any less. There’s just something special about watching these beautiful purebreds do what they do best. Maybe one day I’ll have one again. Here’s hoping. I’ll know when the moment is right, I suppose.

In the meantime, I get to share the next best thing with you.

This afternoon, a brand-new video goes live on the KassDays channel:
Storms & Show Dogs! 🌩️🐕 Inside an Outdoor Champion Dog Show

It’s all about the 2025 Alberta Kennel Club Summer Classic in Okotoks — one of those classic outdoor long-weekend events that somehow manages to feel both big and hometown at the same time. There were storms, there was sunshine, there was high-flying agility, sleek conformation rings, and a whole lot of gorgeous dogs (yes, including plenty of those impressive Great Danes that have been showing up more and more these days).

I got to be ringside for some of it, and this video captures that pure dog-show energy in 4K. Whether you’re a longtime show-goer like me or just someone who simply loves looking at beautiful dogs, I think you’re going to enjoy it.

See you at the Dog Show. And who knows… maybe one of these days I’ll be the one walking into the ring with a four-legged friend of my own again.

Until then,
Kass

Diamond Valley Show & Shine 2025 – Rain or Shine! 💎🚗

 

 

A little rain never stopped a good Alberta car show.

The 2025 Diamond Valley Show & Shine went ahead full throttle despite the wet weather, and the streets were still packed with classic cars, hot rods, and custom builds.

Catch the quick version in this short:
👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/x3Xi_enPLSM

For the full walk-through (more cars, more details, more of that rainy-day energy), the complete video is right here:
👉 https://youtu.be/yitcLREkMQU

The 2026 Diamond Valley Show and Shine is on July 26th at 10AM 

Rain or shine — the Diamond Valley Car Club delivered another solid one. Enjoy!

— Kass

RCMP Musical Ride at Spruce Meadows 🐎

 

 

New Video Today: RCMP Musical Ride at Spruce Meadows 🐎

Hey everyone!

Just a quick heads-up — my new video dropped today at 3:30 PM MST on the KassDays YouTube channel.

This one is all about the spectacular RCMP Musical Ride I caught at Spruce Meadows last August. Spruce Meadows hosts tons of great events, but anything with horses is always my favourite!

You’ll get to meet some of the riders, hear stories from the coronation and Platinum Jubilee, and watch the beautiful precision drills set to music. Classic Canadian tradition at its finest.

If you love horses, you’re going to enjoy this one. Come watch with me tomorrow!

See you in the comments,
Kass 🐴

 

Driving the Remote Mackenzie Highway: A Wild Northern Adventure

 

 

Driving the Remote Mackenzie Highway: A Wild Northern Adventure in Canada’s Northwest Territories

Hey everyone, with summer travel season in full swing and roads filling up with adventurers, it’s the perfect time to revisit one of the most memorable drives from my northern journey. This one was filmed in mid to late September — that sweet spot where the summer crowds are starting to thin but the roads are still buzzing with fellow wanderers wrapping up their big trips. If you’re the kind of traveller who wants to truly see the country — not just the highlights, but the raw, remote heart of it — this drive is for you.

Watch the full video here: 
Driving the Remote Mackenzie Highway  | Did I find the World’s Most Secure Washroom?!(4K) 

Horses and the Lord Strathcona Musical Ride

 

 

Hey friends! A brand-new YouTube Short gallops your way — full of thundering hooves, shiny cavalry, and pure Canadian pride from Lord Strathcona’s Horse!

Catch the Short, then watch the full cozy 4K story that’s already waiting for you: Lord Strathcona’s Horse: The Epic Story of Canada’s Victoria Cross (4K)Horses, history, bravery, and beautiful Alberta scenery — it’s the perfect little escape!Drop by, watch, and tell us in the comments what you loved most. 

 

Thanks for visiting KassDays! 

Your support keeps these stories alive.  

KassDays  

Colorful Bison Statue Graces Cody, Wyoming

A Vibrant Symbol of the Wild West  
 
Hey fellow travellers! If you’ve ever rolled into Cody, Wyoming, you’ve probably spotted one of the town’s most eye-catching public art pieces: a bold, multicolored fiberglass bison statue lounging near a park or roadside (like the one Kass from KassDays captured a couple years back). This vibrant fellow, with its striking red body and swirling blue, black, and white accents, is part of a “herd” of about 30 unique painted bison sculptures created around 2015 by local artists.  
To see more, check it out here.
 
The project was a fantastic community fundraiser for West Park Hospital. Local creators decorated these larger-than-life fiberglass bison to raise funds (aiming for big support for healthcare in the area) while celebrating Cody’s deep connection to the American bison and its legendary namesake, Buffalo Bill. 

Each statue is one-of-a-kind, turning the town into a colorful outdoor art gallery that perfectly captures the playful, creative spirit of the region.Cody itself is a true Western gem—founded by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody in 1895 and packed with frontier history, rodeos, and authentic cowboy vibes. The town serves as the perfect gateway to Yellowstone National Park (just about an hour’s drive to the East Entrance). We loved basing our stay at the Cody / Yellowstone East KOA Holiday just outside town. It’s a clean, well-equipped campground with great amenities—pool, hot tub, playground, and easy access to everything. Perfect for RVers, families, or anyone wanting a comfortable home base after a day exploring.  koa.com 
 
While you’re in Cody, don’t miss the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West—a massive complex of five museums covering Western art, Plains Indian culture, firearms, natural history, and Buffalo Bill’s own story. It’s Smithsonian-affiliated and easily one of the best museums in the country. Other highlights include Old Trail Town, the Cody Nite Rodeo (summer nights!), and scenic drives around the area.  
 
These painted bison statues are a fun, modern twist on Cody’s Wild West heritage. They remind us that the spirit of the frontier lives on—not just in bronze monuments, but in colorful, community-driven art that welcomes visitors from all over. If you’re heading to Yellowstone, make sure to stop in Cody. You’ll leave with great memories, maybe a few photos of a psychedelic bison, and a full appreciation for why this town is so special.

Safe travels, and keep exploring! 
— KassDays.blogspot.com

(Photo by KassDays – one of Cody’s artistic bison herd)

Sheep River Falls Kananaskis Country

Sheep River Falls: A Stunning Hidden Gem in Kananaskis Country 

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting Sheep River Falls in Sheep River Provincial Park, and the beauty of this place is absolutely breathtaking.

Nestled in the heart of Kananaskis Country, the Sheep River tumbles powerfully through a rocky canyon, creating dramatic cascades and churning whitewater that you can feel in your chest. The short, easy trail from the day-use area leads you right to fantastic viewpoints on the rocky ledges — perfect for photos, quiet reflection, or just soaking in the roar of the water surrounded by towering evergreens and mountain vistas.

It’s one of those accessible yet wild spots that makes Kananaskis so special. Whether you’re hiking, picnicking, or just stopping for a break, the scenery delivers every time.

Important safety note: This is prime wildlife habitat. Always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Bighorn sheep, bears, elk, deer, and other animals call this area home. Keep a safe distance, never feed wildlife, and make noise on the trails so you don’t surprise any critters.

A perfect quick escape from Calgary (about an hour’s drive) that feels a world away. Highly recommend adding Sheep River Falls to your summer list!

Who else has explored this beautiful spot? Drop your favourite Kananaskis memories below! 

 

Quick UPS Battery Fix: Save $150 DIY Style!

 

 

If your APC UPS is constantly beeping and flashing “replace battery,” don’t rush out to buy a new one. I just fixed mine for a fraction of the price!In this new 12-minute 4K video, I walk you through the entire process step-by-step:

• Pulling out the old dead battery pack   
• Installing the new replacement batteries (the green & blue ones you see in the pics)   
• Simple tips to make it clean and easy 

No fancy tools needed — just a few minutes and you’ll have a quiet, working UPS again.

Total savings: over $150

Watch the full video here: 
https://youtu.be/HppyKU1G6ow

If your UPS has been annoying you lately, check it out and let me know in the comments what model you have. This fix works great on most common APC units.Happy fixing! 
— Kass

 

Waking Up With The Steele Scouts at the Diamond Valley Parade

 

 

Good morning from Diamond Valley!  

We started the day bright and early with the Steele Scouts riding proudly down the street — flags waving, horses stepping high, and that wonderful small-town parade atmosphere filling the air. There’s something special about watching these riders lead things off as the town wakes up. 

 

If you’re joining us in the morning, here’s your front-row seat to the action: 

Watch the Short: Waking Up With The Steele Scouts 

For the full extended version with more footage and morning vibes from the parade, you can watch here: Diamond Valley Parade – Full Morning Cut 

 

These early morning parade starts are always full of energy and great memories. Stay tuned — we’ve got plenty more from the Diamond Valley Parade coming throughout the day!Thanks for following along on the adventure.

 

This is the Diamond Valley Parade from 2025, but we were at the 2026 Parade yesterday and that video will be coming out on the KassDays YouTube channel in the future.

 

Cheers!

Kass

 

 

Diamond Valley Alberta Parade 🐴

  Diamond Valley Parade 2025: Bagpipes, Horses & Pure Small-Town Magic!

Oh, you’re going to love this one! Last year’s Diamond Valley Parade was pure joy from start to finish. Think kilted pipers marching proud, horses prancing with flags flying, creaky old wagons, shiny classic cars, and that wonderful small-town vibe that makes your heart happy.  Filmed in gorgeous 4K, this video is like a big warm hug from rural Alberta — the kind that reminds you why we love these little communities so much!  Whether you were there cheering in 2025 or just need a smile today, hit play and enjoy the cuteness.   Watch the full 2025 Diamond Valley Parade video now on our YouTube channel! Diamond Valley, Alberta – 2025  P.S. This year’s parade is this Saturday, June 6, 2026 — we’ll see you there!  

 

Lotus Emira Stuns at Okotoks Show & Shine 2025

Talk about a show-stopper! This vibrant blue Lotus Emira turned heads everywhere it went at the 2025 Okotoks Show and Shine. This is the modern Lotus sports car done right — mid-engine layout, aggressive lines, dramatic side air intakes, and that stunning Seneca Blue paint that pops under the Alberta sun. Add in the black roof, those massive yellow brake calipers peeking through the dark wheels, and the low, planted stance, and you’ve got one seriously desirable British sports car. It’s the kind of machine that makes you want to find the nearest twisty road and just disappear for a few hours. 

Lightweight, razor-sharp handling, and that unmistakable Lotus DNA that puts the driver first.We grabbed a quick clip of this beauty at the show (another short one for now), but the full Okotoks 2025 coverage is coming soon to the KassDays YouTube channel. If you love pure driving machines that look as good as they go, this Emira is peak modern exotic. Absolutely one of the highlights of the entire event.

1932 Ford Hot Rod Pickup – “Blue Beauty” at Okotoks Show & Shine 2025

This stunning electric-blue 1930s Ford hot rod pickup is pure old-school eye candy! From the chopped and smoothed cab to that gleaming exposed V8 engine sitting proudly up front, every inch of this truck screams classic hot rod attitude. The deep, vibrant blue paint shines like a jewel, the chrome details pop, and those wide white-letter tires on polished wheels give it that perfect stance. Open headers, suicide-style doors (or classic early Ford styling), and that custom bed — this thing is built to turn heads and draw a crowd.It’s the ultimate expression of traditional hot rodding: take a tough little Depression-era Ford pickup, drop in a big powerful engine, lower it, and make it shine. Pure American craftsmanship and fun.We spotted this gorgeous rig at the 2025 Okotoks Show & Shine and it was easily one of the standout classics of the day. More full coverage heading to the KassDays YouTube channel in the next month or so.

If you love traditional hot rods that look like they just rolled out of the 1950s, this blue beauty is absolute perfection.  

Rowley Alberta: The Ghost Town That Refused to Die

 

 

Hey everyone,

Just south of Drumheller in Alberta’s rugged badlands sits a tiny prairie community that refuses to fade away — Rowley, Alberta.

With only 9 residents, three historic grain elevators, and one legendary saloon that’s still serving up cold drinks and good times, Rowley is the perfect example of a “ghost town” that simply won’t die.

In the brand-new 4K walking tour video I just released, I take you on an immersive stroll through this fascinating place. You’ll see the weathered wooden buildings, the old sidewalks, and especially the striking old hospital that still stands tall after all these years — a powerful reminder of Rowley’s past.

This small town has had its share of boom-and-bust cycles, but the spirit here is unbreakable. Rowley has even served as a filming location for Hollywood productions, bringing a touch of movie magic to the Canadian prairies. At the same time, the locals keep the community alive with fun events like their popular monthly Pizza Night, where everyone gathers for food, laughter, and stories.

 

So… is Rowley truly a ghost town? Or is it one of Alberta’s greatest comeback stories?

If you love exploring hidden gems, small-town history, or just beautiful backroad adventures, this is one place you need to see. The quiet streets, sweeping prairie views, and resilient heart of Rowley make it a truly special destination.Watch the full immersive 4K video here: 

Rowley Alberta: The Ghost Town That Refused to Die (4K)Have you ever visited Rowley or other small Alberta towns? Drop a comment below and let me know what you think — is this the ultimate prairie survivor story?

Safe travels, 
KassDays

Rowley Alberta — small in size, mighty in spirit.