Let’s Chat: A weekend of fun close to home

By Linda Tooth on October 22, 2025.

Like many, we have chosen not to travel outside of Canada for obvious reasons. Some of those reasons include ridiculously high prices, a weak Canadian dollar, and current government nonsense. This has made us look within our own province for places to visit.

During the recent long weekend our friend group travelled to Rosebud and then to Calgary for a few days of laughs, memories, good food and great entertainment. Let me begin with our first stop which was in Rosebud, Alberta.

For those that have never been, I would highly suggest making the two and a half hour journey from Medicine Hat to the hamlet of Rosebud, Alberta. Located northeast of Strathmore and southwest of Drumheller, this gem is located in a very picturesque valley filled with an artistic community that is amazing to watch and listen to.

The Rosebud Theatre – School of the Arts began in the early 70s as a summer outreach program for youth living in Calgary and has evolved into a post-secondary theatre training institution that has brought culture and fame to this small hamlet. Our time in Rosebud began with a wonderful lunch buffet that was included in our ticket price and was hosted at the Rosebud Mercantile. The service was great and a young singer added to the ambiance of this unique setting.

We did a bit of shopping in the mercantile before we crossed the street to the Rosebud Theatre for the world premiere of The Green House. Calgary playwright Krista Marushy is the writer behind this play.

She is quoted as saying “love between mothers and daughters is complicated” and we left that play asking questions as to what exactly transpired at the end. It will make you think.

After the play was over, we said goodbye to Rosebud and then made the one hour trip to south Calgary for a two night stay that saw us eat, shop, visit family, and return kitchen renovation stuff we no longer needed to IKEA before attending the Cooper Alan concert at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino.

For those who do not know who he is, do not worry. Alan is an up and coming country star that found fame thanks to social media. His Tik Tok mash-ups have made him a rising star everyone should go and see. Just a few words of caution to those attending concerts at Grey Eagle, if you are over fifty-five you will want to make sure there is seating at any concert you attend there.

Unfortunately for us who are all over fifty-five, there was no seating at Alan’s show so we stood for about three hours. We limped out of the casino with sore backs, knees, and hips, but we all agreed it was worth it.

Upcoming for us is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Foreigner, Russell Peters, and Terri Clark & Paul Brandt. All of these events are taking place in Medicine Hat and there will be seating at the venues, thank goodness!

Have a Meowtastic Day and keep reading!

Linda Tooth is a philanthropy and youth support worker, YMCA of Southeastern Alberta