If you want something to do this weekend, check out the Arts, Eats, and Beats Festival in Bragg Creek on Saturday!
The event is returning for the second year and comes jam-packed with various food, artisan goods, and music.
Held by the Bragg Creek and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Arts, Eats, and Beats Festival is free of charge and is intended to showcase the town’s talented artistic community and diverse local businesses.
Last year, attendees were given an event passport, which they could use to collect stamps during the event. If you got 15 stamps, attendees were entered into a draw for a $300 cash prize.
“This is our second year doing the event, and we’re thrilled to bring the community and visitors together to explore our local businesses while enjoying music, food and artists,” Chamber president Sherri Olsen told the Cochrane Eagle.
If you are interested in music, you can expect your ears to be serenaded by every musical beat. This includes jazz, folk, blues, roots, and styles that don’t fit into traditional labels.
At the first Arts, Eats, and Beats festival, Neil Speers, Cory Ullan, Robb Mann, Two Late to the Party, Camie Leard Band, Wendy Walder, and the Tribe all performed.
Ullan and Walder are returning this year. Walder’s music is soulful and reflects the rich heritage of the Cree Métis and Mi’kmaq First Nations.
She has been nominated for and won several awards, including the Esquao Award, which recognizes the achievements and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Innuit women across the province.
Walder was also one of two Indigenous artists selected from Canada to perform at the 2018 Winter Olympics’ cultural festival in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Ullan has 20 years of musical experience and is known for performing unique song covers. This year, Ullan will be performing in her musical group Magnolia Buckskin.
Magnolia Buckskin features Natasha Sayer, Kathy Cook, and Ullan. “The trio draws upon its prairie roots, delivering a blend of indie bluegrass, folk, and acoustic pop music on guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion and bass.”
Bragg Creek’s own Dani Moon will also be performing at the festival.
Dani recalls singing along to Ian Tyson, a singer her drummer stepfather, Thom Moon, used to perform with. Moon will perform blues and jazz at the festival this year.
The festival will include performances from Leanne Lightfoot, Treblemakers featuring Brian Frank, Tim Babey, Backyard Betties, and The Lost Prospectors.
These artists will be performing on the festival’s main stage. To soak in all the entertainment, attendees can set up their lawn chairs by the stage.
However, other musical acts will perform at nearby establishments during the event.
The Heart Cafe will host Bluebird Telegraph, John Robertson will be at The Bav + Tav, and Mya Kate is booked to perform at the Misty Creek Home Store.
If you’re looking for good music and good food, these are the places to be. The Heart Cafe serves a variety of goodies, including vegan scones, muffins, cookies, cakes, bliss balls, salad jars, coffee, and more.
The Bav + Tav offers a finer dining experience, fusing traditional German cuisine with fresh local ingredients from the Rocky Mountains.
“Whether people put on their hiking boots and explore our culinary offerings afterwards or visit the ice cream shop and get their kids’ faces painted afterwards, we’re thrilled to see everyone,” expressed Olson.
The Bragg Creek Arts, Eats, and Beats festival will kick off on Saturday, September 16, from 11 AM to 6 PM. If you want to check out the full schedule, head to the Bragg Creek website.
