Preparations are underway for the annual Summer Oldstice event being held on June 15, put on by the Uptowne Olds committee in an effort to attract people to local businesses.
“Summer Oldstice has become a fairly large event for us as an Uptowne group and every year it seems like we get more and more people interested in the event,” said Leon Durand of Rips Audio Video and Spas, one of the event's organizers.
There are plans to have several vendors and food trucks attend the event but Durand warns that those plans are weather dependent.
“I think this year, there’s seven or eight food trucks alone coming,” Durand said. “We’re always somewhat dependent on what happens with the weather. That’s kind of always up in the air as it is with any outdoor event.”
There will be a free pancake breakfast in the morning from 8 to 10 a.m. held in the parking lot between Vista Travel Olds and Olds Beer and Liquor.
“This year will be free again. Last year we decided we were going to try at least a small price, but we’ve gone back to doing it free with donations accepted,” said Durand.
There will also be a beer gardens featuring coolers as well. It will be held in the same location as the pancake breakfast from 3 to 9 p.m.
“Last year was the first time we tried to do a beer gardens. This year it will be larger and will have entertainment through until 9 (p.m),” said Durand.
The entertainment begins at 8 a.m. with Surprise Act and includes a headlining performance by the Dustin Farr band and entertainers such as Don Jorgonsen, Brown Stone Guitar and Smoking Aces.
As part of the attractions, a walking tour of historic Uptowne Olds begins at 1 p.m. and lasts about 90 minutes.
Other attractions include Bikers Against Bullying Show & Shine as well as kids' horseshoes in the park.
Also occurring on the same day is the return of Moonbeams and Miracles Faith Fest, a gospel music festival. It debuted last year and will again be held at the Big Rack Cow Palace Event Centre.
It starts at 1 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m. with a break between 4 and 6 p.m. for dinner.
Faith Fest organizer Andrea Hawiuk is excited about this year's edition. She says it will be very similar to last year's.
“It was very good last year. We’re doing the same thing as last year; we had a huge crowd last year,” Hawiuk said.
This year the lineup of acts includes The Tapleys, Trails End, Murray Larsen, Potters Clay, and Marty Antonini & Seventh Heaven.
