Three days of music, artisans, and sunshine draw 300-plus to the Killarney Lakeside Festival
BY KIM LANGEN
Great weather, good vibes, and a very big turnout helped create another wonderful weekend festival.
It was the annual Killarney Lakeside Festival, and arts director Giselle Beaupre said it was awesome.
“It exceeded our expectations last year, and this year was even better,” she said. “We had around 300 people at the highest, maybe on Friday night, and Saturday night was a close second. It’s the evening shows that really bring the people out.”
Revenue for the lively event looked good as well, she added.
“We close to doubled the numbers throughout the entire weekend in all areas – with tickets sales, drinks sales, and merchandise sales,” said Beaupre. “And all the food and market vendors expressed happiness with their sales.”
One particular highlight was closing the festival out with a great band on the Sunday, she said.
“We had Days on Land play on Sunday afternoon, from Churchill, and that really pulled people in,” said Beaupre. “We finished on a such a high note. They brought a wonderful sense of musical nostalgia, remembering the days before, and their connection with our local bands. They were fantastic.”
Beaupre credited an incredible team of volunteers and workers in helping the event become such a success.
“The committee and the board are so grateful that the community has trusted us to bring in great music,” she said. “It was a great weekend. I’m pretty tired, but I couldn’t be happier.”
Cara Luft (left), accompanied by her fellow banjo player, opens up the Friday evening show at the Killarney Lakeside Festival with some great sounds.
The Stanley County Cut Ups entertained the crowd with their tight harmonic bluegrass set on Friday evening.
A lot of very loud outfits were donned by the charismatic Men in Cheap Suits (above and below) on Friday night, along with some great party sounds and several costume changes.
The Artisan Market ran on Saturday afternoon, with some stunning hand-crafted gifts, clothes, personal items, and loads more, for all to enjoy inside the Killarney Ag Ground’s Display Building.
Jovelle opens the festival stage on Saturday afternoon with her beautiful vocals.
Daelyn Elise followed Jovelle next on stage Saturday, with a great acoustic set in the sunshine.
The ebullient Mama Sol James returned to emcee the Killarney Lakeside Festival this year, and also did some fine performing of her own during the lively weekend.
Graham Sceviour secured a stool on the Tweener stage, and gave a beautiful performance at the festival.
Terrill Outhwaite sings and strums in the sunshine on the Tweener stage.
The Killarney Filipino Band entertained the crowd on Saturday afternoon with their mix of great cover songs.
Local band The Racket brought their powerhouse of garage sound, incredible drumming, and massive vocals to the stage on Saturday afternoon.
The Curubande All Star band was a brilliant hit, with their incredible salsa numbers, their joyousness, and delightful choreography of front-man dancing. So fun.
Local band Junction Three took the festival stage on Saturday night with a great mix of original songs and powerful covers.
Quinton Blair (above, left and below, right) and his dynamite band rock the Saturday night stage at last weekend’s annual Killarney Lakeside Festival with powerful vocals and great musicianship. Back for a second year, Quinton Blair had the headlining slot on Saturday of this year’s event.
There was also Line Dancing with Myrna (above) on Saturday afternoon, and Yoga with Melinda Moore (below) on Saturday and Sunday morning.
Lana Winterhalt, along with her focused and exuberant Youth Camp group, make their official stage presentation on stage at the festival Sunday at noon.
T.H.E. (The High School Experience) band takes the stage on Sunday afternoon, with another great performance.
Days on Land make a blockbuster finish to the Killarney Lakeside Festival, with a fine performance
on Sunday at 2 p.m. What a great weekend!
