Arts Festival | Art Show | Dance | Film & Video | Writers Circle | Music & Song | Handicrafts | Visual Art | Performance Art | Heritage | Landscape Art | Carving | Photography | Digital Art | Indigenous Art | Stained Glass | Pastels | Jewellery
Mtn View Arts Festival Countdown
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Didsbury Alberta Sept 15, 16, & 17, 2023
Unless stated otherwise, all activities run from 11 am - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday.
ADMISSION BY DONATION FREE PARKING WHEELCHAIR AND STROLLER ACCESSIBLE
OUR VENUES Didsbury Elks Hall, 1702 - 21 Ave Didsbury Train Station, 1812 - 20 St Train Station Parking Lot Didsbury Library, 2033 - 19 Avenue Didsbury Museum, 2110 - 21 Ave Blue Door Concerts, 2524 - 15 Ave
Since 2011, thanks to the community and Canadian Heritage, the Arts Festival has been one of Didsbury Alberta's signature events, and Mountain View County's largest festival of its kind! Art lovers see Didsbury Alberta come alive with all that is arts and culture in our region, including dancers, storytellers, musicians and songwriters, handicrafts, painters, potters, carvers - you name it, if it's artsy, it'll be here!
What's Happening?! In 2023, the Mountain View Arts Festival is held in conjunction with Alberta's Month of the Artist and Alberta Culture Days!
This year's activities take place downtown, in the heart of beautiful Didsbury, Alberta!
Didsbury Elks Hall - Indigenous dancers on Saturday, artwork from Didsbury High School students both Saturday and Sunday, and a full day at the Music Jamboree on Sunday.
Didsbury Train Station - sees the return of the ever-popular "Artists at Work" both Saturday and Sunday.
Didsbury Library - Sharing Circle on Friday, Comic Expo, CosPlay, tattoos, caricatures, and Mini Market on Saturday!
Didsbury Museum - "Scarecrows on Parade", Photography Show & Sale, Harvest Tea on Saturday, Movie Matinee on Sunday, Activities all weekend!
Blue Door Concerts - The Minor Six concert on Friday night. Opening by Camille Labrecque, The Violin Girl. PLUS, Flint & Feather Concert on Saturday night!
Artists at Work Saturday & Sunday What's an arts festival without artists? The 6th Annual "Artists at Work" will be on hand at the Didsbury Train Station ready to answer your questions, explaining how they use their tools and materials. They'll even give you a chance to do a "Make It - Take It" project!
If you have any questions, e-mail Merrilee or call Bill at 403-335-2288, our Artists at Work Coordinators.
Let's Dance! We are very excited to be able to showcase some of our local dancers at this year's Festival.
First off, you'll enjoy a Métis Dance Performance at the Elks Hall on Saturday afternoon with two performances, one at 11 am and a second at 1 pm. Enjoy Traditional Dancers Belle Piche and Dustin Gamble (pictured right). MC by Correctional Services of Canada Elder Pam Piche-Lashmore. Special Guest: Alex Kusturok, 5-time Manitoba Métis fiddle champion and Grand North American Champion fiddler!
We also have a little surprise for you at pARTy Centre! Jitterbug Dance Academy from Carstairs will be giving dance lessons at the Train Station parking lot. Two sessions, one from 12-12:30 pm and the second from 12:30 - 1 pm, both Saturday and Sunday!
There is Highland Dancing at the Elks Hall on Sunday during the Music Jamboree, guaranteed to be a great performance!
There will be food available at the Elks Concession from 11 am to 5 pm both days. They'll have hotdogs, burgers, chips, drinks, even chili and cookies! Lots of music played, and people coming together to dance and celebrate the arts in our region. Free family fun for all!
Live Music all Weekend! Everyone knows that music is good for the soul. Great toe-tappin' music is the heart of any festival and we'll have a full slate of talented local stage performers and musicians.
Evening Concerts Thanks to the folks with Blue Door Concerts, we have two outstanding evening concerts at this year's Arts Festival! Venue is located at 2524 - 15th Ave in Didsbury. More information on both these concerts at facebook.com/Bluedoorconcerts.
Friday Sept 15, Doors Open at 6:45 pm, music starts around 7:30 pm - The Minor Six with special guests! This is a very special show that we're pleased to be hosting in support of the Didsbury High School Band Society! We've got a very talented group of musicians joining us. They've coined themselves "The Minor Six". See, 'cause they're all minors, and cause there are six of them, and also 'cause they are playing jazz. So it all makes sense in a way. Don't miss out on this show from some of the best young musicians around! Opening Act is Camille Labrecque, The Violin Girl! Tickets for this show are $15, with all funds (once we've paid the musicians) going to benefit the Didsbury High School Band Society! This program gives so much value to the youth in our community and we're proud to support it! Tickets are available by e-mailing info@bluedoorconcerts.ca.
Saturday, Sept 16, Doors Open at 6:15 pm, music starts around 7 pm - Flint & Feather We are very excited to welcome Flint and Feather back, this time as a headliner! Flint & Feather (Joal and Lauren Kamps) are a free-spirited husband and wife duo who are passionate about cultivating community through folk/roots music, storytelling, and laughter. Drawing upon Western Canadian history, Rocky Mountain folklore, and their own colourful life journeys for inspiration, the Kamps create original 'Rocky Mountain Folk-Pop' songs that tell stories with an uncommon charm. Tickets are ($25 ea), by e-mailing info@bluedoorconcerts.ca.
Music Jamboree Sunday! Thanks to the folks at Top Note Music School, the Mountain View Arts Society has a great line-up of fabulous talent all afternoon at the Didsbury Elks Hall.
11 - 11:45 am: Top Noters
12 pm: MiJo Gard Trio
1:30 - 2:30 pm: Fiddler's Jamboree
2:30 pm: Foothills Fiddlers
3:30 - 4 pm: Robertson Highland Dancers
4:15 - 5 pm: Top Note Talents (Camille and Lauren, Little G Gordie, Annessa Rae, and Friends!)
Our Sunday afternoon Music Jamboree is modeled a little bit after the old-fashioned house parties when people got together after a long day of work for an evening of music, story-telling and fun. And if we catch you dancing while waiting in line or shopping in a store, humming a tune while walking downtown Didsbury, or "playing drums" on the table in a coffee shop, we know we've done our job!
Buskers Welcome! Buskers add delight, interest and energy to our Arts Festival, especially for those out for an afternoon stroll. Didsbury's streets provide a wonderful opportunity for buskers to showcase their craft and for residents and visitors to be entertained and show their appreciation. The entire downtown of Didsbury will be a-buzz with activity - the perfect place for buskers to set up and entertain. We welcome all street performers to come and strut your stuff! Let us know you're coming by calling 403-477-5954 and we'll help get the word out for you!
Harvest Tea Weekend celebrations at the Museum begin on Saturday, September 16th with a very lovely Harvest Tea. The Historical Society is well-known for its afternoon socials, and all you need to do is call and let us know which tea time works best for you and your friends. Reserve early by calling the Didsbury Museum at 403-335-9295 to book your sitting. Available times are:
11 am - 1 pm
2 - 4 pm
Two of Didsbury's finest chefs from Prairie Whistle Food Co. will provide the FREE catered menu for the Harvest Tea. Please book early if you would like to come to the Didsbury Museum for tea and to sample fresh, seasonal, locally sourced delicacies.
Scarecrows on Parade It's back! After a 2-year hiatus, the Didsbury Museum is excited to bring back their "Scarecrows on Parade" contest. Not only do organizations and individuals have fun entering the competition, but the Town of Didsbury Council has challenged other area Town Councils to see which community can create the best scarecrow!
Scarecrows can be delivered to the Museum between Wednesday the 13th and Friday the 15th (unless alternate arrangements are made). The Museum is open from 10 am - 4 pm. Please call 403-335-9295 before you come so someone can be there to assist you with set up.
Celebrity Judges will be choosing the best in each category on Sunday afternoon. Prizes will be awarded in these 3 different categories:
Child/Youth
Adult
Corporate/Organizations
Scarecrows will be on display at the Didsbury Museum on Saturday, September 16th and Sunday, September 17th. Come over and vote for your favourite scarecrow and take pictures with these creative characters. Category and "People's Choice" Winner Announcements will be made at the Museum on Sunday afternoon.
Pack a picnic lunch, throw in your favourite park blanket, and sit on our beautiful lawn amongst a myriad of very friendly scarecrows. Seeing people coming together to make memories and laugh and eat good food makes for many genuine "Kodak moments". Bring your camera!
PLEASE NOTE: The Mountain View Arts Festival showcases musicians and entertainers from Alberta. There are no openings for performers from outside Canada.
pARTy CENTRE At the Train Station
Pop over to the parking lot beside the Didsbury Train Station for Chalk Art, Splash Paint, Glitter Tattoos, Bubble Dance Party, Water Fights, Sidewalk Painting, and Dance Lessons!
Fun for kids, parents, and grandparents both Saturday & Sunday!
PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW At the Museum
It's time to showcase Mountain View County's photography talent! The Didsbury Museum will be home to a 2-day Photography Show & Sale, Saturday & Sunday, Sept 16 & 17.
ALL WEEKEND! Scarecrows on Parade Outdoor Garden Train Indigenous Exhibits War Brides Tribute Cultural Displays Uranium Glass Local Area Heritage Scavenger Hunts
FRIDAY AT THE LIBRARY!
Sharing Circle at 6:30 pm
With Îyârhe Nakoda Elder, Philomene Stevens
You are invited to participate in this sacred tradition, a safe environment whre you can share your point of view with others. The intention is to open hearts to understand and connect with one another. This is a heart-warming, positive experience. Pre-registration is not required.
SATURDAY AT THE LIBRARY!
Comic-Con, 11 am - 5 pm
Calling all time lords! For fans of all ages, celebrate all things pop culture at our mini-con! Come together with fellow fans to geek out over comics, anime, sci-fi, cosplay, gaming and more!
You'll be greeted by "Vader's Fist" from the 501st Legion of CosPlay folks!
Meet Didsbury's own, Kyle Charles, a professional Marvel Comic book artist
Flash Tattoos with Aura Ink! Pricing available at the festival.
Caricatures by Mark Cromwell of the Colour Club! ($5 per face)
Anime showing, Button Making
Come check out the Mini Market! Pandora's Boox Comicsource Dragonfly Jewels Pixels by Marley Sapherdd Spiller Creative Aardnor Minis
Performing at 7:30 pm on Friday, September 15th at Blue Door Concerts Ticket Info Here
Performing at 7 pm on Saturday, September 16th at Blue Door Concerts Ticket Info Here
FOLLOW THE FESTIVAL ON OUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS
LIVE ON LOCATION SATURDAY
What's an arts festival without artists? The 6th Annual "Artists at Work" will be on hand at the Didsbury Train Station ready to answer your questions, explaining how they use their tools and materials. They'll even give you a chance to do a "Make It - Take It" project!
We are very excited to be able to showcase some of our local dancers at this year's Festival.
Weekend celebrations at the Museum begin on Saturday, September 16th with a very lovely Harvest Tea. The Historical Society is well-known for its afternoon socials, and all you need to do is call and let us know which tea time works best for you and your friends. Reserve early by calling the Didsbury Museum at 403-335-9295 to book your sitting. Available times are:
It's back! After a 2-year hiatus, the Didsbury Museum is excited to bring back their "Scarecrows on Parade" contest. Not only do organizations and individuals have fun entering the competition, but the Town of Didsbury Council has challenged other area Town Councils to see which community can create the best scarecrow!
