Raise your beer steins and sing a song of good cheer.
It’s going to be a Beer Barrel Polka kind of weekend as the Morinville Food and Jam Festival launches its first Oktoberfest on October 4 and 5, a tribute to the town’s German founding fathers.
This long-overdue festival brings together elements of German heritage, history, culture, music and food says Allen Jacobsen, the Town of Morinville’s community development co-ordinator.
Jacobsen stated that the town council had long recognized the francophone settlers and wished to celebrate the German heritage in conjunction with the harvest.
Jacobsen, who lived in Germany and speaks the language fluently, was able to recreate the German sense of community, something he was part of for 14 years.
“Let’s have fun and turn this into a heritage piece and party,” were his dominant thoughts when tasked with coordinating this event.
The celebrations start at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre Friday night at 6 p.m. A heritage display, in part gleaned from the townspeople’s heirlooms, will be placed in the lobby.
“Public works even dug up an old three-language stop sign buried in the sign area. It reads Stop, ArrÄ‚Ĺžt and Halt,” Jacobsen marveled.
Jazz singer and recording artist Barbara Meyer will sing several of her original German-English language songs in addition to preparing a few interactive workshops.
The more formal ceremonies start at 7 p.m. with Vinok’s eight cultural dancers performing a few German dances. Calgary’s Braybek Brothers, a five-piece Bavarian lederhosen band entertains until 10:30 p.m.
The Morinville Minstrels jumpstart the evening with a salute in three languages and Morinville Community High School students are inspired to perform the works of German composers.
What would a party be without food? The free event also introduces foods such as juicy bratwurst, potato dumplings, apple strudel and salted pretzels.
“All the food is free except for the beer,” commented Jacobsen adding that the beer gardens will carry a wide assortment of German beers along with traditional Canadian brews.
On Saturday a volksmarch in traditional German dress musters at 11:30 at Rotary Park for a walk downtown to St. Jean Baptiste Church.
Following the walk, the Morinville Festival Society, working in partnership with the town, has planned an eruption of activities centered at the Morinville Farmers’ Market, stated festival society chair Paul Smith.
“The market is having a corn shucking contest and they’ll be showing off the weirdest vegetables. We’re going to have three stages set up – a pop stage that leans towards professional singers and a rock stage that’s also for professional. The third stage is a community (stage) for up-and-comers to try to get into the fold,” Smith said.
Smith explained that the society’s long distance vision for the festival is to evolve to the point where music industry scouts come see the newest and brightest entertainers.
“To do that we’re giving away $20,000 in prizes.”
They include a marketing package, gear, management time, recording time and paid showcase spots opening for some of the big name acts rolling through town.
The festival closes with Rocktoberfest, a full-out concert at the Community Cultural Centre. Four of the region’s hottest bands – Canyon Rose Outfit, Whiskey Boyz, Edgore and Paul Smith Band – will be tearing up the stage.
Canyon Rose is officially releasing their new album Wilted Rose on Oct. 11, but they’ll have advance copies at the concert.
Whiskey Boyz are a long-time band attraction throughout the region and Edgore is the dark horse, an energetic band playing classic rock tinged with metal.
And finally Smith gathers the teachers from his music school for a set of Queen, the famed British rock band of the 1970s that released 18 number one albums.
“This is going to be a two-hour show where everybody gets the full treatment. There will be a three-tier stage, a catwalk, full video, full pyro and full stage lights. To accompany the bands we’ll have a two-piece string section, a two-piece brass section and two additional backup vocalists. It’s the biggest show the cultural centre has seen.”
Pre-show at 9 p.m. Concert at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call 780-939-2590.
