Not just a cycling festival

Times Reporter   

 

As part of the festivals highlighting our province for the Tour of Alberta, local culture and performers are being offered to showcase our communities to Canada and the world. The nation’s first major international professional cycling event, from Sept. 3-8, includes 900 kilometers of Alberta prairies, plains and foothills, but also 10 unique community festivals featuring live music, entertainment, local foods, and fun activities.

“Each festival features a great line-up of Alberta performers and cultural events, and every festival will have something different for people to enjoy,” said Duane Vienneau, executive director of the Tour of Alberta. “Our host communities have done a great job in showcasing the culture of their communities and regions at each of the festivals, and working with Alberta Culture, we are very excited to be able to complement this with headline Alberta performers.”

In Edmonton on Sept. 3, and in Calgary on Sept. 8, Two Fools on Stools will be headlining. Kelly Hoppe and Gordie Johnson from Big Sugar will bring an acoustical sound to blues, rock, and reggae. The Calgary show is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 115, 4th Avenue S.W.

Nominated for Country Album of The Year at the 2013 Junos, country music band Emerson Drive of Grand Prairie, Alberta will be at Red Deer on Sept. 5.

From 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. (at 80 Veterans Way) in Drumheller on Sept. 6, Jenn Beaupre will be performing. Beaupre plays piano, sings, and writes songs; she also won Calgary’s Stampede Youth Talent Showdown’s most promising artist, and took part in Canadian Idol.

The next day, in Black Diamond, Jaydee Bixby (runner-up on the first season of Canadian Idol) will rock the stage. 

Other daily entertainment at the various festivals will include Ukrainian dancers, Cheer Team shows, BMX demos, mascot races, bike parades for the kids, and First Nations celebrations.

Full lineup details are listed at www.tourofalberta.ca.