The Bear Creek Folk Festival will again receive funding from the City of Grande Prairie. City Council members have approved the group’s ask of $87,500 from the Large Scale Tourism Fund for the fourth annual event. Board President Gordie Haakstad says he’s glad to see the city offer its help for the fourth year in a row.
“The event itself has kind of woven itself into the fabric of the summer. We’ve built a huge community of volunteers and fans so I’m excited that the city recognizes that and continues to support it.”
The City first created the fund in 2017, allocating $200,000 for festivals and sporting events that attract at least 35 per cent of their audience from places more than 100 kilometres away.
This year, the 2019 Canadian Men’s and Master Men’s Fastball Championship and the Grande Prairie Stompede were also looking for funding, asking for $25,000 and $50,000 respectively. Both were also approved.
With big names like Alan Doyle, Feist and Blue Rodeo lined up for this year’s festival, Haakstad says most of the money will go towards talent.
“Our biggest line item is artist fees. We’re getting top name talent and those fees do cost and those fees cost prior to the event taking place. As ticket sales continue on that’s the money that eventually will also go to our contractors both locally and the ones that we have to get elsewhere.”
The festival runs from August 16th to 18th at Muskoseepi Park.