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Lots to see and do at the annual Lacombe Culture & Harvest Festival

Things kicked off Friday evening with a barn dance featuring the Dean Ray Band

Featuring a slate of activities celebrating agriculture, music, the arts and community, the Lacombe Culture & Harvest Festival was held this past weekend at the Lacombe Ag grounds.

Things kicked off on Friday evening with a line dancing workshop with the County Pride Dance Club.

A barn dance followed with the Dean Ray Band.

On Saturday, there were lots of things to check out including the ‘Life of a Marketeer’ market which showcased several local artisans throughout the day.

“We’ve seen lots of happy people and the shows have also been really well-received,” said Austin Weaver, executive director at the Lacombe Regional Tourism Association.

“Our organizing committee has performed well and our volunteers have been great. Also, our partnership with the LA Vintage Machine Club and the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre have been spectacular.

“And of course I have to thank the City of Lacombe and Lacombe County for helping us with the festival as well,” he said.

Also on Saturday were an Indigenous drummer and dancers by the Pow Wow Times, Celtic dancers from the Knock O’Hogan School of Irish Dance and Egyptian dance by Okama Ekpe Brook.

Other highlights included a duck herding demonstration and performances by Metis fiddler Colten Bear and Lacombe’s own Flashback Freddy.

Weaver said he was very pleased to see how visitors engaged with vendors and artists in the ‘Life of a Marketeer’ market.

“We are seeing people going in and being ‘part’ of the (artistic) process - not just sitting and watching. We do have some of that, but we wanted more engagement. And that is what we are seeing.”

Tracey Richter managed the market and the food trucks on-site and was also excited about how the festival went.

“It’s so nice to see the flow of traffic coming through and we have so many amazing artists here,” she said. When asked about what she wanted people to take away from the overall event, she said, “To see how great Lacombe is - the diversity that we have in this community, and how we all work together,” she said, adding that post-COVID, it’s a particular joy to see folks getting out and being together more and more. “It’s just great to be out, sharing and with other people.”

Sunday’s highlights included again the ‘Life of the Marketeer’ market, another performance by Flashback Freddy and wagon rides provided by 24-2 Draft Horses.

There was also be a Taekwondo demo by Red Deer’s Taekwondo Master Seoungmin Rim and his students.

Colten Bear performed again and a threshing demonstration was also held.

Local blacksmith Henrietta Verwey also provided demonstrations of her trade over the weekend.

In past years, events for the Lacombe Culture & Harvest Festival were spread around the Lacombe area – but starting last year, all the activities were held at the Ag Grounds, said Weaver.

For more, go to www.lacombetourism.com or follow them on their social media platforms.

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Flashback Freddy accompanies Metis fiddler Colten Bear at the Lacombe Culture & Harvest Festival on Sept. 24. Mark Weber/Lacombe Express
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A duck herding demo was one of the highlights on Saturday afternoon.
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Kelvin Carl Christensen showcases his artistry in the ‘Life of the Marketeer’ Market at the Lacombe Culture & Harvest Festival on Sept. 24. Mark Weber/Lacombe Express
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There was plenty to check out from the LA Vintage Machine Club during the Lacombe Culture & Harvest Festival on Sept. 24. Mark Weber/Lacombe Express
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Another shot of the duck herding demonstration.


Mark Weber

About the Author: Mark Weber

I've been a part of the Black Press Media family for about a dozen years now, with stints at the Red Deer Express, the Stettler Independent, and now the Lacombe Express.
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