Culture and Harvest Festival returns to Lacombe

Organizers are excited about this year’s Lacombe and Culture Harvest Festival, which is set to run Sept. 21 on the Lacombe Agricultural grounds.

The Central Alberta festival kicks off at 10 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m.

Unlike past years, this year’s event is one day only, and will be held primarily outdoors, says Savannah Lalonde, Lacombe Regional Tourism’s marketing coordinator.

Having everything run on a single day makes it easier for visitors to catch all the highlights, she said, adding several of the favourite events and attractions from past years will be included in this year’s rendition as well.

“We are having five new artists coming in and painting our giant fishing lures onsite. Of course, we will have performers as well as agricultural demonstrations.”

Another popular event, the duck herding, will be back as well, along with everything from assorted cultural performances to horsemanship demos featuring Flying Cross Ranch, along with threshing demos.

The Lacombe Vintage Machinery Club will present tractor pulls and threshing demonstrations, and various vendors will sell their wares on the grounds through the day.

“There will also be some features before and after the event. The L.A. Vintage Machinery Club will be offering their Mega Pancake Country Breakfast which goes from 8 to 10 a.m. In the evening, from 5 to 7 p.m., they are having their Roast Beef Country Supper.

The Lacombe Performing Arts Centre will also have their usual barn dance featuring the Dean Ray Band starting at 7 p.m. And just prior to that, Country Pride Dance Club offers line dancing lessons at 6 p.m. sharp. Tickets for the after-hours events are sold separately through the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre.

“There will be a kids’ area set up as well, with activities and games for them to enjoy.

“There are a lot of really talented individuals and organizations who will be showcased. So for me to be able to help collaborate and bring it together with our team has been really great, and very rewarding,” Lalonde says. “As a community member, I always love this particular event. It’s a great family event, too … it brings the generations together as well.”

Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family. Those 12 years and younger are admitted free.

For more details, head to lacombetourism.com. Those interested in being part of the event can email info@lacombetourism.com.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!