Killarney Guide

Live music, artisan market, children’s events and more start today at Heritage Home for the Arts grounds

BY KIM LANGEN

Three days of festival fun begin today over at the local art gallery’s greenspace.

The Sights & Sounds Arts and Music Festival opens today, Friday, August 20, on the grounds of the beautiful Heritage Home for the Arts, across from Erin Park, and there really is something for everyone to enjoy this weekend.

Jane Ireland, arts administrator for the Killarney-Turtle Mountain Arts Council, said they were on tenterhooks, uncertain the event could even take place because of COVID restrictions. And when they got the final go-ahead, it was a massive rush and a big buzz to finally announce the incredible line-up of arts and entertainment slated for the fab festival.

“We have country star Del Barber, who is from Winnipeg, headlining on Saturday night, and the Japanese drumming band Fubuki Daiko will be running their drumming workshop on Sunday afternoon. That is apparently a very intensive event, and people are recommended to wear sweat pants,” she said. “There are still some spaces left in the drumming workshop. And it will be a great day for kids on Sunday, with the Children’s Art Workshop, with Al Simmons. Al, who is also MC for the weekend, will present his own show on Sunday as well, and we will have Lucien Spence take the evening stage.”

The festival is centred around the arts centre grounds, but cars will enter the site just south of the driveway, at the Ag Grounds, said Ireland.

“People will then be guided into the parking lot, which is a fenced area in front of the gallery,” she said. “They will come through a gateway that joins our driveway, and walk down to the art gallery to enter the festival.”

The Artisan Market will be the first thing festival goers see, because it’s going to be set up right around the big oval circle by the gallery. 

“We have around seven artisan stalls, including a very big one for the Heritage Home for the Arts itself,” said Ireland. Entry to the Artisan Market is free, as is the Children’s Workshop on Sunday, she added.

But tickets are required to enter the Music Festival area, which will be set up in the rear of the gallery grounds.

“Our back porch will be the ‘small stage’, and we will have performers there,” said Ireland. “Out on the grass, on the south lawn, will be our Main Stage. People can bring their own chairs, or blankets, and they can even bring a sun tent – maybe a rain tent – which can be erected at the back of the audience area, so they don’t block the view for the other guests.”

The small stage will also be a location for random musicians to just turn up and capture their moment in the limelight over the weekend, added Ireland.

“We are adding a chance for you to strut your stuff at our Open Mic sessions on Saturday, August 21, and Sunday, August 22, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on our small stage,” she said. “We will provide the sound; you just need to provide the music. Bring your instrument, or your voice!”

One major disappointment that has arisen from the late go-ahead is that their plans for food trucks have fallen through. 

Ireland said that they had intended to have a wonderful array of delicious choices lined up on the drive, but all licensed food truck operators were either already booked, or too short of staff to make the Killarney event.

“We are so upset, and so sorry that we probably won’t have hot food for sale this weekend,” said Ireland. “But I can promise you that while searching for them from Brandon to Winnipeg and locally, we have discovered a lot of amazing food truck people. And we will have a great line-up of some incredible food next year.”

For this weekend’s event, food can be ordered locally, and delivered by taxi to the festival site, she added. A brochure with details of local options and websites will be handed out at the event.

While the gallery itself will continue to operate its regular hours, it won’t be open for the public to use the conveniences, said Ireland.

“We will have porta-potties outside for guests to use,” she said. “The gallery will just be for the performers and artisans.”

Other events include Indigenous music and songwriting on Friday afternoon, with evening performances from Becky Lou, Desiree Dorion & Kristen Mckay, with the North and Sound Manitoba Arts Network Summer Tour.

Saturday entertainers include jonny moonbeam and the Monday to Friday Idiots in the afternoon, with Del Barber taking the stage at 7 p.m.

‘Pack a picnic, and enjoy the festival,” said Ireland. “It is going to be so great.”

You can also check out the artists and musicians in advance on Instagram @killarneyarts, where Jane Ireland has been posting a heap of info and photos to introduce them, and whet your appetite!

Tickets for the various choices of festival passes (see event ad at killarneyguide.ca) are available at Lewis & Jones, the Heritage Home for the Arts, by calling 1-431-734-0394, by emailing [email protected], and can also be purchased at the festival gate on the day.

Keep scrolling to see the full schedule of events below.

FESTIVAL TENT AND TABLES GOING UP – Things were taking shape quickly on Thursday afternoon over at the Heritage Home for the Arts, as preparations got underway for Killarney’s first Sights and Sounds Arts and Music Festival, which starts today. The Armstrong Tent Rentals guys (above) out of Souris were busy erecting the tent over the festival’s main stage, while arts administrator Jane Ireland (below) holds up brochures for local food in town that can be ordered in, and the artisan market tables begin to appear behind her on the oval.