This years the Wetaskiwin Arts and Music festival 2.O solidified the fact that music and art is a common and universal ground that is shared by not just a genre or a gender or an age group but by the human race.
Whether you to prefer a Bach concerto or the Misfits or country rock, we all have a need to listen to and enjoy music. And the Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Festival provided all of that and more the June 22 weekend.
The arts community in Wetaskiwin is always ready to showcase the uniqueness and talent that resides here. Some were new to the festival and came out of the basement where they create their masterpieces and are shy to show, while others are returning again this year after great success and enjoyment from last year. We even had some new artists from Ponoka, Maskwacis and Edmonton because we wanted to bring those art communities to ours to create an arts destination for all of Alberta and beyond.
The opening ceremonies started the day off with a smudging by Elder Roy Lewis to respect Treaty 6 and we had Oh Canada sung in Cree, French and English. The variety of music from mostly locals filled the park all day even through the two hours of rain. However; none of that dampened the spirits of the vendors, musicians, volunteers, committee or guests. It was another successful and well organized Arts and Music Festival.
Thank you to all the sponsors and the citizens of Wetaskiwin who came out and supported us. We are proud of our festival and 3.0 Saturday June 22, 2019 is already on the Travel Alberta web page and it is being planned.
I will be stepping down this year as president of the Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Society to move on to other exciting things in my community and beyond. So if you are interested in being involved in the festival and the not for profit society please contact wamfs17@gmail.com. Be a part of something exciting and fun.
Submitted by Susan Kokas, president, Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Festival