Coke Turns 125

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My old English professor used to say that way back when his grandpappy was a young boy that you could drink a coke and talk to Jesus for 20 minutes. If you know anything about the history of Coca-Cola you would probably be inclined to believe that claim. These days Coke has transcended the source of its nomenclature and become the wine of North America by virtue of how much people here consume the legendary brown fizzy liquid. It’s pretty much ubiquitous like wine is in France.

Folks reserved their free coke through Wagjag

This past weekend I got to join in the celebration of the Coca Cola 125th birthday in Toronto’s Yonge and Dundas square. It was part of a simultaneous celebration with similar events being held in Montreal and Vancouver and from what I was able to see on the simulcast screens of the other shindigs, Toronto looked like the funnest party by far. The whole event is part of Coke’s Where Will Happiness Strike Next campaign and what can I say? People looked as happy to get free coke as they were to get a nice sunny day for a change!

Say what you will about Kardinal Offishall but man does he know how to work a crowd! I’ve been to quite a few outdoor concerts at Dundas Square and most of them are so lame it’s painful because the audience usually is about as much fun as an enema in the Arctic. Maybe it’s because just about every show there is free meaning that since the audience didn’t exactly pay to be there perhaps they don’t feel the need to get their money’s worth in good times had. OR many of the acts that have played there (not all – Iggy Pop was epic at NXNE) are lame. Kardinall Offishall struggled at the beginning of the show but he would not have it! Halfway through his second song he got people jumping and hollering as the Coca Cola street team bombarded the audience with free beach balls, thunder sticks, and confetti, oh and lots of Coke in those cute little glass bottles we all love.

Not a bad way to spend a very beautiful day in Toronto. I’m looking forward to seeing the video that the Biz Media is reportedly putting together for iCoke.ca. I’m sure it’ll be great like all their work. Anyway here’s a little slideshow I made for you from my Coke turns 125 Flickr set!

UPDATE: Here’s the Long awaited BizMedia video!