Get the Word, outside the Lethbridge Public Library downtown, Sept. 23.
Another exciting Artsfest begins with the seventh annual Word On The Street, Sept, 23 outside the downtown branch of the Lethbridge Public Library.
Some of the highlights include plenty of authors, live music from Karen Romanchuk, The Bryant Watson Duo, Junkman’s Quire, Beyond Crimson, Dale Ketcheson and Kavanagh and Hepher, food trucks and a lot more.
“There will even be a life sized ‘Where’s Waldo,” noted festival director Elizabeth Hegerat, noting there are a few new features this year.
“Kapow Comics will have a comic and graphic novel tent with local comic creator Eric Dyck and Calgary comic artist Sam Hester. And the Piikani First Nations will be bringing their tipi,” she said.
Word on the Street have expanded the kids’s tent this year with appearances by authors Margaret Ruurs (Stepping Stones), “ Governor General Award winning author and illustrator Barbara Reed ( Picture A Sky), Ruby Slipperjack (Dear Canada:These Are My Words) Kevin Sands ( The Assassin’s Curse) and Svetlana Chmakova (Brave).
Hegerat is looking forward to author Joy Kogawa author of Obasan and the recently released her memoir “Gently to Nagasaki.”
She is also excited to feature Ian Hamilton, author of “The Courturier of Milan,” which is part of the Ava Lee series.
There are plenty of Southern Albertan authors participating including Calgary based author Sharon Butala and local author Richard Stevenson.
Word on the Street begins with a Blackfoot Blessing from Elder Francis First Charger who will also be sharing Blackfoot stories at noon, which will be followed by a scavenger Hunt beginning at 11 a.m.
Hegerat is looking forward to a panel discussion “ What To Do If A Cartoonist Moves Next Door featuring Eric Dyck and Sam Hester.
There is a bigger Blackfoot presence at this year’s festival with the tipi set up demonstration at 11:15, which will host Blackfoot stories with Francis First Charger at noon, a Blackfoot Language lesson with Beverly Hungry Wolf at 1, a pow wow drumming workshop with Jaron Weasel Bear, at 2 p.m., a Métis culture and history lesson with Rod McLeod at 3 and much more.
There are also collaborations with other community groups including the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, who present Story-time with Tad and Tomo at 1p.m. and Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and area presenting Minyo Dancers at 4:14. The Lethbridge Pride Fest feature storytelling with drag queens at 3 p.m.
But why restrict interest in books and reading to Word on the Street, you can get your library membership renewed for free at Word on the Street.
“It’s bigger and better than ever,” enthused Lethbridge public library communications co-ordinator Bernice Duguay.
“We’re hoping we’ll get more people than last year,” Hegerat added.
The full schedule is online at https://thewordonthestreet.ca/lethbridge/.
Word on the Street kicks off a week of arts related fun with the seventh annual Arts Days festival, which is part of the 14th annual Art Walk, which pairs local artists with local businesses, in which they will be creating art on the spot in several cases.
“We’ll have 75 artists in 40 different venues around downtown,” said Allied Arts Council project co-ordinator Muffy McKay.
“We‘re planning a lot of different events with a lot of events that were already happening this week,“ McKay continued.
After checking out the ArtWalk and getting your passport stamped through “Stomp N’ Stamp” and entering your name into a draw for an original painting by local artist Aaron Hagan, stop by Galt Gardens, Sept. 29 and 30 for a beer and German themed fun with Oktoberfest
