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Gospel music festival in Blackfalds this weekend

A light-hearted, relaxing weekend of country gospel music is headed to Blackfalds’ All Star Park

A light-hearted, relaxing weekend of country gospel music is headed to Blackfalds’ All Star Park with a multitude of performers and talent thanks to the efforts of Blackfalds United Church.

The weekend is a fundraiser for the church and is a fun way for people to get together at a good price, organizers say. For $30 for a weekend pass, a visitor can camp, eat and enjoy the music of 18 musical performers and groups.

“We have a lot of fun, we’re very light. We try to be entertainers rather than just singers, and most people find it that way,” said Jim Escott, keyboardist of Visions Country Gospel and a member of the Blackfalds United Church congregation.

“I’d really like to focus on the amount of work that the congregation does. The congregation is very small and works hard. It’s one of the major fundraisers for the church.”

Performers include Debbie Bergeron, an ex-Nashville native singer who currently resides in Eckville, Potters’ Clay, a Lacombe group, Visions Country Gospel, Joyful Melody Trio, a southern gospel group and 13 year-old Victoria Street, a performer with talent far beyond her years, said Escott.

This is an all-ages, family event weekend that for $30 (whole weekend pass) $20 a day or $5 for a single performance, would include RV camping for Friday and Saturday night (weekend pass), heated tent performances, a dessert auction, dinners and lunches.

All a person needs to bring is a lawn chair for the shows as all performances are in a heated and covered tent area. The show goes on rain or shine.

“It’s centered around the performers, but we also have a dessert auction on Saturday and Sunday. The ladies from the church run a concession and cook up burgers or chilli or soup. There’s a supper on Saturday night,” said Debbie McCrimmon, treasurer for Blackfalds United Church.

“A lot of people travel from quite a distance. We’ve had phone calls this year for example from a lady in Kelowna. It’s nice meeting the different people and talking to them. That’s kind of what it’s about too – giving a weekend for people to come and enjoy.”

Gates open at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 and are open until Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available at the gate. More information can be found at www.blackfaldsunitedchurch.com, or by calling any of the numbers listed in the online pdf brochure on the church’s web site.

kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com