Music Festival ‘STARS’ to fans

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

If it weren’t for STARS, High River’s nine-year-old Kianna Thompson would not have been able to dance with her family at the third annual Southern Alberta Music Festival last weekend, coincidently supporting the very same emergency service that saved her life.
Thompson suffered from a heart attack two years ago and required the services of STARS Air Ambulance to airlift her from the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary to Edmonton Stollery, thus saving her life.
This year signaled the second time the music festival raised money for the non-profit organization.
To support the cause, four generations of Kianna’s family came out and enjoyed the 23 local artists that were on display.
“Music is in our blood,” said Diane Charleton, Kianna’s grandmother. “And Larry Vannata is our good friend too and we’re all kind of like family. Being from a small community around this whole area here, you know everybody. When you come together for an event like this it’s lots of fun.”
Diane’s brother is a member of the Free Beer Band that played on the opening night.
“Jason (owner Thornhill) does an unbelievable job, especially when he had to move it from the pasture over to here,” she said. “Aspen Crossing has so much to offer. Jason has made it what it is today. For these guys to support that, it’s all kind a part of the parcel.”
Larry Vannatta, who organizes all the bands, thought it was important to have local talent present at the festival because it’s important for them to get their name out there and to have fun in front of a crowd.
“This whole event is about STARS and local people,” said Vannata. “If people can come out and support local artists, it’s great and it’s going to a great cause. I love it, from the beginning when they started this thing. Local bands, great music, good friends and going to STARS, it’s all a win-win situation.”
He added that kids like Kianna dancing with her mom Lindsey is all the inspiration he needed to attend this event year after year.
Aspen Crossing General Manager Donna Biggar said it is a great event for the surrounding community.
“They’ve been coming out here for three years now and love coming back,” said Biggar. “They have fun and sell lots. It means something to everybody rurally with STARS because that’s who needs it the most.”
She added that the biggest benefit was being a part of the community and being able to involve other people in what Aspen Crossing is doing and the people who come out and donate to the cause.