Craving some poutine? Head to the Great Canadian Picnic on Saturday

PHOENIX — The 67th annual Great Canadian Picnic is coming to Phoenix on Saturday.

The picnic, complete with snow games, live music, a vertical obstacle course, a classic car show and Arizona Coyotes hockey activities, will take place at the South Mountain Park Activity Complex from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Attendees can snag some poutine and other dishes at food trucks, or they can pack a picnic lunch.

Organizers asked people to bring canned food items with them to donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Society Pantry.

The free event expects to draw 3,000 attendees.

In 1953, Vic and Reta Wallace moved from Ontario, Canada, to Phoenix, hoping the dry climate would help with Vic’s asthma, according to the picnic’s organizers.

They said the couple started the Canadian Social Club to alleviate their homesickness, and they put on the first picnic.

The Wallaces scoured parking lots for Canadian license plates and left information written on receipt backs under windshield wipers.

And it worked, organizers said — about 500 Canadians came to the event.

The picnic is now run by the nonprofit Canadians In Arizona Benefiting Education and Exchanges.

According to a press release, about 128,000 Canadians live in Arizona, and 1 million are expected to visit the state this year.

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