Derek Hintz performs to a full house in the Kiln at Medalta during Tongue on the Post Folk Festival this past January. Hintz is one of several performers slated for the Thawed Out Country Music Festival at Medalta.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
Medalta is welcoming musicians from across Canada this weekend for its inaugural Thawed Out Country Music Festival, which begins this evening and runs through Sunday.
The festival, which is funded through Travel Alberta and sponsors including Tourism Medicine Hat, will feature an array of live music performances and other activities for all ages.
“Medalta is a great space for bringing people together in the community,” Medalta events manager Sara Dell told the News. “So, we just wanted to host a big fun community event for everyone.”
The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. tonight as Hatters are invited into one of Medalta’s historic clay kilns for a bourbon tasting. Limited tickets remain available for purchase at the door. Tickets are $50.
Then at 8 p.m., Saskatchewan musical ensemble Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys take the stage for an evening concert. Tickets are $20.
Events continue into Saturday as Medalta opens its doors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an afternoon concert series, children’s activities and expert demonstrations on the organization’s long-held pottery making process.
Held in the main building’s reception gallery, the afternoon concert series will include performances by Kalsey Kulyk, Duane Steele, Ryan Lindsay and Noeline Hofmann, with 15-minute to half-hour intermissions between each performance.
In the nearby turning room, an array of activities will be set up for children from tots to teens, including a bouncy castle and obstacle course, face painting, movies, games and sports, play area stations, as well as free cotton candy and popcorn.
Children are also invited to participate in one of three clay project classes offered throughout the day in the education classroom, while adults interested in clay can visit the production room to watch live jig and process demonstrations.
Several food trucks will also be stationed at Medalta’s around the outdoor courtyard from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission to the morning and afternoon events is free, with the only exception being a $5 registration fee for the children’s clay project classes, and any food or drink purchased from food trucks.
Following the public portion Saturday is the 6 p.m. long-table kiln dinner, which seven local restaurants and cafes collaborated to prepare. Tickets for the long-table dinner have already sold out.
Then at 8 p.m., another concert kicks off featuring Calgary singer-songwriter Mariel Buckley, with local musicians Derek Hintz and Tim Herman opening. Tickets are $20.
To wrap up, Medalta will once again welcome the public into its reception gallery Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an artisan market featuring local vendors. Admission is free.
Food trucks will also again be stationed in Medalta’s outdoor courtyard.
