St. Albert’s Rendezvous 2011 Picnic is set to become the mother of all picnics. In fact, the 16-member Strathcona Mounted Troop Musical Ride was just confirmed as the feature performance at the Kinsmen grounds.
The most all-encompassing marker for the city’s 150th anniversary, the picnic on Sunday, Aug. 28, will stretch along 9.5 kilometres of the Sturgeon River.
Dotted along this magnificent tract of scenery will be 10 sites with entertainers ranging from rock bands and Aboriginal dancers to dog agility and a DJ-hosted dance.
After the 11:30 a.m. opening ceremonies at St. Albert Place, St. Albert Catholic Parish’s church bells will peel down the river, heralding the picnic’s start at noon.
Although the picnic extends from the westerly Kinsmen grounds to the more easterly Kingswood Park, the anchor point is St. Albert Place.
Fittingly, organizers have planned a mix of traditional and modern entertainment on St. Anne Street. Calgary’s Rob Lennard, a self-proclaimed “historical wrangler” has written a book covering Alberta’s pioneer years and will read excerpts about St. Albert’s settlement.
Immediately following on the main stage is a fistful of emerging local talent with some impressive credits to their name.
Barely 19, Leah Durelle has already recorded five country albums and she’s just launching her professional career.
Another singer with powerful vocals, pop singer Madi Amyotte, 16, gained a national profile as one of the top six finalists for YTV’s The Next Star.
An international artist in the making, folk/roots singer Robert Mulder has a robust U-22 presence and is studying music at Paul McCartney’s prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
And the duo of singer/songwriter Stephen Lecky and singer/actress Jessy Mossop is a talented powerhouse fuelled by diverse talents that has led to multiple awards.
Meanwhile at the Kinsmen grounds, five bands, including folk singer Roland Majeau and St. Albert’s Battle of the Bands winners pop/punk band G.U.R.L., will transport the crowd to a new dimension.
“We’re actually pretty excited. It’s a great opportunity to play to a big crowd and to people in our hometown,” says G.U.R.L. frontman Ryan Quick.
Jumping across the river to the Grain Elevator Park, there will be a more low-key vibe with Cornerstone Quartet, a barbershop group that once appeared at the Boston Pops.
Still on the same side of the river, the west Celebration Gardens hosts an afternoon of First Nations entertainment with the MĂ©tis Family Child Jiggers and the Running Thunder Dancers performing hoop dances, grass dances and fancy dances.
And at the east Celebration Gardens, St. Albert Community Band’s sounds will float down the river. “We’ll be playing everything from Broadway to light classical to Disney. It’s all lively and loud,” laughs band president Gerry Buccini.
At the bottom of Seven Hills by Ă©cole Father Jan, L’Association Canadienne-Française de l’Alberta celebrates their 85th anniversary featuring a special stage show with national children’s entertainer Alex MahĂ©. “He’s from St. Albert and he’s a well-known bilingual singer that will fit in with the spirit of the picnic,” says David Frechette of ACFA.
Further east at St. Albert Centre, another half dozen emerging artists — including pop country singer Rebecca Lappa, Treble Makers Vocal Trio and Our Favourite Stranger — take to a second stage.
The Woodland Water Play Park is packed with family entertainment ranging from several Ronald McDonald magic shows to a bunny agility show.
And the Telus Youthapalooza at Kingswood Park highlights the Edmonton Eskimos Cheer Team, dunk tanks and a non-stop parade of dance songs from DJ Kapers and Harlley Snow.
“We’re staying away from the club stuff. It’ll be light and bouncy, the kind of music on commercial radio,” Snow says.
In addition, roving artists will travel along the quieter areas of the river. About 10,000 flyers listing a complete schedule of events will be handed out during the picnic. Bring your picnic basket and lawn chairs and enjoy the entertainment running from noon to 4 p.m.
