Bala 150 community photo-op Sat. July 21 at 1 p.m.

Take this huge Cranberry Festival crowd – add hundreds more – and put them in front of the Community Centre (top right) and snap a team photo this Saturday just after noon.

BALA — Here’s a photo-op you won’t want to miss if you love Bala.

Hundreds are expected to show up this Saturday afternoon, July 21, at the Community Centre, opposite the Bala Sports Arena, for a group photo celebrating 150 years of history for the small town of Bala.

Everyone who has ever lived or cottaged at Bala is invited to be part of the photo about 1 p.m. — including anyone who has a special memory of Bala.

The photo will be taken by Bala photographer Andy Hansen (Pure Muskoka) from the rooftop of the arena.

Arrive by shortly after 12:30 p.m. to get in the photo

A community BBQ will be hosted on Maple Avenue following the group photograph, hosted by the Bala Legion.

Bala’s Museum will be offering an opportunity to have photos taken in period costume as a keepsake of the Bala 150 anniversary.

Two great-grandsons of Bala’s first permanent settler, Thomas Burgess, will speak to the assembled group on Saturday.

Mark Gidley’s grandfather, Thomas Burgess Jr., built Roselawn Lodge in 1903 and was mayor of Bala in 1922.

Brad Burgess’s grandfather, J.W. Burgess, ran the Burgess General Store for decades and was also an early mayor of Bala.

Both Gidley and Burgess will be on hand to talk about their pioneer roots.

A video presentation onBala/Muskoka history will be shown at the Bala Community Centre following the Bala 150 BBQ.

Historical photos and archival memories will also be on view at the Community Centre.

For more information: Contac Norah Fountain, general manager, Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 705-762-5663 or Jack Hutton, Bala historian, 705-762-5876.