A shot at fame

Times Reporter

 

Everyone deserves a shot at his or her 15 minutes of fame, and that’s what residents are trying to prove in Rosebud. For the last five years the hamlet has held the 15 Minutes of Fame, but this is the first year they have decided to let the secret out. 

“It wasn’t meant to be a secret, it was just a little in house thing and finally we’re like, you know what? Its time people should know about this and it is something that everybody could enjoy,” said Royal Sproule, organizer. The hamlet is already well known for its theatre productions and now it may become even more popular with the folk festival. 

From 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sept. 5, people can head to the west opera square in the middle of town to watch up-and-coming talent. From 5 p.m. until dark there will be eight headliners. 

“We have a special guest, one of our favourites, is making a surprise appearance,” said Sproule. 

He recommends bringing a blanket, sunscreen or even a low little lawn chair to enjoy the festival. 

“I think we’re at the beginning of a very, very successful western Canadian folk festival. We’ve got a really neat green space once it grows, we could really open it up, we wouldn’t have to turn anybody back or turn anybody away because of the size of it down the road,” said Sproule. The dream right now is to have the event grow until it becomes a significant folk festival but still keep it small enough that it is like everybody’s secret. 

“At the heart of it I would like to think the 15 minutes of fame is the catalyst, the thing we can build our future around in terms of a town and tourism, and I think its perfectly set up to be sort of a flagship of all this other stuff we’re hoping to do,” said Sproule. 

Organizers are trying now to figure out what they have to offer that other folk festivals don’t. Sproule said it is like stepping back in time when people come to Rosebud, so maybe sticking with old-fashioned fun and games such as gunnysack races are in order.  

“My dream is that we hold weekend festivals every weekend in August and September,” said Sproule. 

Anyone can go down and enjoy the festival for the afternoon for just $10 per person or $25 per family.