City celebrating being Together Again on Sept. 17

By Samantha Johnson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 7, 2022.

The City of Medicine Hat is bringing a full day of events to the community for Together Again on Sept. 17.

Roving street performers, live music, games, an auto show, trade show, kids area, a free dinner and fireworks to finish it all off. Not only that, but for the entire day the library will be turned into an escape room.

Josie Doll, entertainment and events co-ordinator with the City of Medicine Hat, said, “What we’ve done is there will be something happening every hour. When the main stage is going, there is nothing at Veterans Park, but when the main stage is off, Veterans Park kicks off. Everything is changing every hour, it’s not like you’ll walk around and see it all in 15 minutes.”

The place to be is First Street SE between the Esplanade and Town Square. The main stage will be right in front of the Esplanade with an array of Canadian bands playing. The Royal Foundry, an alternative pop band, kicks off the music at 1 p.m. with Taking August following. The Northern Pikes, 54/40 and Band of Brothers play in the late afternoon to early evening, with High Valley taking the final show at 8:30 p.m. For the first time ever there will be a beer garden at the Esplanade.

There will be a few ceremonies, one celebrating new Canadians who immigrated during the pandemic years. The cenotaph at Veterans Park has been designated a municipal historic resource, and a plaque dedication will take place. Additionally, there will be a red carpet to recognize all of us as a local hero.

In the evening will be Share a Meal, Share a Story on Finlay Bridge.

“It will be Medicine Hat’s longest dinner table, which is exciting,” said Doll. “It’s a free meal but more than that it’s a time to share our experiences.”

The meal has limited seating and is the only event that needs to be pre-registered for. Registration opens at noon today on tixx.ca.

“We have a portrait unveiling that is part of this grant as well that really captures the people and how much diversity we have in the city,” said Doll. Artist Kat Valenzuela took photos of people during the summer of 2020 in a project funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage. There will be a small unveiling at Veterans Park before the full portrait is revealed at the Esplanade.

The day of events is being funded by a federal grant.

“It’s realizing we’ve been apart for a number of years and it’s a way to bring ourselves together, not only through music but by bringing the community together to have a collective experience,” explained Doll.

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