Jam Fest returns to Neepawa
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- Published on Friday, July 15, 2016
Photos by Diane Ruzycki. Left: Some of the artwork on display at the outdoor artshow during Jam Fest 2015. Right: A musician performs a piece as part of the Jam Fest 2015 festivities and events.
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
What do you get when you combine the sound of live music, the sights of local art and culture and the taste of freshly produced jams and foods? For ArtsForward, it hopes you鈥檒l get everything you need for a perfect summer day in Neepawa. The non-profit group has organized Jam Fest for Saturday, July 23.
Rrain Prior, director of programming for ArtsForward, said this is the second year for the event, which features a musical stage, outdoor art show and farmer鈥檚 market. Prior noted that for this year, they鈥檝e had a little more time to assemble a day.
鈥淸2015] was the very first year for Jam Fest. We decided, and it was right in the end of May, beginning of June, that with no Lily Festival, we really wanted to have something in town. So, very quickly, we put together this concept,鈥� said Prior. 鈥淔or last year, considering the short notice to arrange it all, it went very well. We had a beautiful day for it. So we decided after that, that it was something that we wanted to continue every year.鈥�
Prior said that ArtsForward had been batting around this idea of Jam Fest for quite some time. The name is a play on words, as it features farmer鈥檚 market and the jam tasting, as well as a musical aspect, or 鈥榡am session鈥�. She added that for this year, they鈥檝e been able to take the original idea and expand upon it, ensuring that there should have a little something for everyone.
鈥淭his year, we鈥檝e had a lot more time to prep. We have all these things in place. We鈥檙e going to have more food options. The line-up for the stage performances is set. We have a wide variety of acts already, but there still is a little bit of room for people who perhaps didn鈥檛 know about, but would like to be involved and do a song or two,鈥� Prior stressed. 鈥淭he music will run right from 1:00 pm until dark, basically. Officially, it runs until 8:00 pm, but you know musicians. Once they get going, they鈥檒l keep going.鈥�
The other aspects of Jam Fest will also begin at 1:00 pm, including the outdoor art show, children鈥檚 activities and arts and crafts. Prior said a new addition to the festivities will be one hour mini-sessions of ArtsForward classes.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have some mini-classes. A yoga session, for anyone who wants to be involved. A jewellery session, art session. Just hour long mini-classes, where you can try something out. Those options are brand new and we think will go over very well, while also showing people exactly what we do here.鈥� said Prior.
The other major part of Jam Fest will be the jam tasting, which will go from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Those interested in participating, can submit a jam for just a dollar entry fee. People will then vote on their favourite. Prior said a competition like this is really more about the prestige than the money. Jam Fest is set for July 23, at the ArtsForward grounds, rain or shine. Everyone is invited to be a part of the fun.
