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Music Fest celebrates Canada Day weekend

The Town of Black Diamond is going all out to celebrate 150 years since Canada’s confederation.

The Town of Black Diamond is going all out to celebrate 150 years since Canada’s confederation.

The Town is hosting its Diamond Music Fest and Canada 150 two-day celebration from morning until dusk this weekend, combining 19 hours of live music with children’s games, a mini market, beer gardens, First Nations dancing and a dance workshop.

The festivities take place at Erma Joy Brown Park beside the Oilfields Regional Arena from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., July 1 and 2.

“Canada’s 150th Birthday is a significant event in and of itself and the Town was inspired to bring people together through the Diamond Music Fest to celebrate together,” said Quinn Page, Black Diamond economic development and events co-ordinator. “Diamond Music Fest is a perfect way to get down and slow down and spend the July long weekend with good music, friendly people and a ton of fun.”

The festival features more than 30 acts from throughout the region with music from a variety of genres, said Page.

“We are a hub for seasoned and aspiring musicians and the Town wants to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday by providing family-friendly entertainment and hosting an event that is all about building community through music,” she said. “We are really excited to have so many youth and seasoned musicians performing at the Diamond Music Fest this year. There will be an eclectic mix of genres that everyone will enjoy. There will be no shortage of entertainment.”

The festivities begin Saturday at 10 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and opening ceremonies for both the Canada 150 pathway and bicycle pump track.

Attendees can browse a market featuring half a dozen vendors, youngsters can play old-fashioned carnival games and get airbrush tattoos and people can enjoy a variety of food on site, said Page.

The Canada Day address and singing of O Canada will kick off at 11:30 a.m.

At noon, dancers from the Stoney Nakoda Nation will perform with the Spotted Rock Drumming Group of Eden Valley.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Calgary’s Just Jamal and Catfish the Wizard is offering a freestyle break dance and hip hop workshop.

The music festival itself runs from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring bands like Ray King Blues Band, Apache Moon, Deni Kobi, Jake Vance, Taken by Sanity, Got It Covered, Brad Carrigan, The Bandolier Brigade and winner of the Black Diamond Music Fest auditions Linden Conroy of Millarville.

Page said last year’s Canada Day weekend music festival was such a success with about 1,500 people in attendance that they decided to host it again.

“It’s Canada’s 150th birthday and the Town of Black Diamond really wanted to show their support and cultivate and encourage the musicians from within our region to bring the community together to celebrate,” she said. “Many of them performed at the music festival last year and they loved the spirit in which we are having a free public event that is family friendly and we are trying to cultivate a hub for musicians in the community so they were more than happy to come back again this year.”

Following the live music, performers are invited to sit in on an acoustic fireside performance at 9 p.m.

Fireworks will go off north of Tim Hortons at dusk.

The festivities continue Sunday with live music, the market, food vendors and old fashioned games running from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Black Diamond Mayor Glen Fagan said the music festival is a great way to celebrate Canada’s milestone birthday.

“It’s a huge celebration,” he said. “Last year was an introductory and we saw an excitement about it. This year is just over the top. It just shows that there is an interest out there to celebrate where we live and how we live.”

Admission to the Diamond Music Fest and Canada 150 Celebrations is free, although donations will be accepted.

For more details about the festivities go to diamondmusicfest.ca or town.blackdiamond.ab.ca

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