There are some big changes in store for the 19th East Coulee SpringFest. This year, the music festival, for the first time in its history, will last all weekend.
    The festival has been slated to start May 10 with their kick-off concert and culminates at a huge concert at Kaleidoscope Theatre on May 12. The hope is that the extra time will spin-off to other local businesses.
    “We’ve done two marketing surveys in the last two years. One of the goals was to get buy-in from sponsors in the community. This is key for that, because now we’re a festival destination and people will stay one or two nights in the Valley,” said Brent Noland, president of the Dinosaur Valley Heritage Society.
    “There’s a myth that, because SpringFest in East Coulee, there isn’t much tourism impact. Our research has shown about 68 per cent of the people who come to SpringFest are tourists.”
    The lineup for the concert has been finalized, with fan favourite Kirby Sewell slated to return. Local talent, such as the Fire Coulee Bandits, Roadside Attraction, and Wayfaring Fiddlers are set to return as well.

The East Coulee SpringFest is finalizing its lineup this year, but has already secured the fan favourite Kirby Sewell Band. SpringFest is growing and will run from the evening of May 10 to May 12, where things will be wrapped up with a special concert by blues legend Harry Manx at the Kaleidoscope Theatre.

    The weekend will open with the kick-off party on the evening of May 10 and run all day on May 11.
    SpringFest has also secured Harry Manx to play in the final concert on May 12 at the Kaleidoscope Theatre.
    “This is a real coup. We’ve got Harry Manx coming on Sunday. He’s an international blues recording artist, with about a dozen albums out. He usually plays places like the Winspear Centre. He’s the biggest artist SpringFest has ever seen,” said Noland.
    SpringFest has also started its sponsorship drive.
    All of the money raised by SpringFest will go towards maintaining and repairing the East Coulee School Museum, which will serve as one of the venues for the festival.
    The 19th SpringFest comes at a time of challenge for the School Museum. In the last year-and-a-half, the museum’s boiler broke down and its water pipes cracked after being exposed to sub-zero temperatures this past winter.
    To get involved with SpringFest, contact Noland at 403-823-8560 or e-mail ecmuseum.springfest@gmail.com.

    4-H members from around the Drumheller 4-H district gathered at the Morrin School for the 2013 Drumheller District 4-H Speak Offs on Saturday, March 16.
    The judges had their work cut out for them as the prepared speeches, impromptus and presentations were all excellent.
    Moving on to Regionals for public speaking are Juniors  Darcee Hall and Alia Nielsen, Intermediates Levi Hampton and Saige Hall, and Seniors Mickey Johnson and Lowell Nelson.
    The first and second speakers in each category will be headed to Sedgewick on Saturday, March 23.
    The winners in the Presentations category were Junior Emily Alderdice,  and at the Senior Level Michelle and William Hoover.
    Regional presentations are in Stettler on Sunday, March 24.
    The Drumheller and District 4-H club expressed their appreciation to the Morrin Multi 4-H Club, emcees Teaghan Coultes, Tyler Ferguson, and Serena, Michie, to all judges and officials, and to Alta Link for sponsoring the program.
    Good luck to all the speakers as they represent Drumheller District 4-H at Regionals.

Serena Michie (left) and public speaking intermediate winner Levi Hampton at the Drumheller and District 4-H annual Speak Offs on Saturday, March 16.