Farmer’s Markets return to Exhibition Park this  Saturday, May 23. But there are a lot of rules that need to be followed to ensure patrons’ safety from Covid.
The Market will run in the North Pavilion 9 a.m. to  2 p.m. every Saturday. It will expand to the main pavilion
 Priority access is offered to seniors and people with disabilities from 9 -9:30 a.m.

“As we continue to navigate and adjust to the new normal, we are excited to be able to serve our community, while supporting local producers and exhibitors through the 50th anniversary of the Farmers’ Market at Exhibition Park.

We know that many people are concerned about food availability and accessing it in a safe manner. As such, we are making every effort to be adaptive and responsive during this time. As always, our top priority is creating an environment in which our guests, exhibitors and employees are safe. We continue to work closely with our local contacts at Alberta Health Services, the Alberta Farmers Market Association, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Response and are committed to remaining up to date on any COVID 19 announcements from the Government of Alberta as they relate to any aspect of the delivery of the Farmers’ Market.

The Geomatic Attic’s Mike Spencer is  confident Covid 19 panic will pass. So much so that he re-scheduled spring shows from Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn and Shane Koyczan for late fall at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre.

 The April 9 Shane Koyczan show will now be Thursday, Nov. 5 while Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn’s June 23 show has been moved to Wednesday Oct. 28.

 Steve Dawson’s Black Hen Roadshow, Volume 4, originally set for June 3 is cancelled but will be rescheduled. Spencer said deposits had already been made for the Sterndale Bennett so the rescheduled Eaglesmith and Koyczan shows will still be there rather than at Geomatic Attic.

“We already had an agreement with the Sterndale Bennett. But it’s nice to have that option,” Spencer said.
 He said it is a gamble to book shows at the best of times, especially an entire series.

“I’ll pay between $1,000 to $3,000 and up to $5,000 for bigger acts in deposits, which add up,” Spencer said.
 The province’s Covid 19 ban on gatherings over 15 has unfortunately meant the Wide Skies Music festival has been cancelled this year.

“I saw this coming in March so we held onto deposits until June,” he said.
“But unfortunately, we didn’t have any other options as the province’s ban on gatherings over 15 is expected to run through to September,” Spencer said, adding MonkeyJunk and Birds of Chicago had been booked for the popular June mini-festival. He hopes to incorporate them in to the next season.

The Lethbridge Folk club is in a holding pattern thanks to Covid 19.
 They have had to cancel the remainder of their season which included some excellent blues music  from Carlos Del Junco in March, and Winnipeg bluesman Big Dave McLean in April as well as Colorado bluegrass quartet the Blue Canyon Boys.

“We’ve cancelled the rest of the Spring season. The venues aren’t available, so we aren’t doing open mics, which were at Casa. Basically we haven’t booked anything else because there is too much unknown. And when you book artists, you are paying deposits,” said Lethbridge Folk Cub president Tom Moffatt.
“ It’s disappointing. There are shows I really wanted  to see.

 “Luckily we didn’t lose a lot financially. The artists and venues have been really good about returning deposits,” said Moffatt, noting  he club is waiting to see how things unfold.

“We don’t want to risk the health of our audience by forcing them into a concert situation,” Moffatt continued.

“The artists have expressed interest in returning, but we haven’t booked anything yet,” he said.