The Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre was filled with children and adult performances this last week as the Drayton Valley Performing Arts Festival returned to the community.
Theresa Dufault, the president of the festival, says her group were excited to be able to put on the event this year. Their 2020 festival had to be cancelled because of the pandemic restrictions.
Dufault says cancelling in 2020 was disappointing, as that was the 30th year anniversary of the festival. It first started out as the Kinsmen Festival in 1990, and has been held ever since, being rebranded as the Drayton Valley Performing Arts Festival.
Dufault says there were 48 performers in total at the festival this year, though many performed in more than one category. Those participating in the event ranged from age six to adult, and all were from the Drayton Valley area.
However, this year was still somewhat limited by current gathering restrictions, so they only held solo performances for speech and piano. In the past, some festivals have had 200 people in attendance, but this year it had to be limited.
“Normally we would have choirs from the schools and Valley Voices as well as any bands if they wanted to participate,” says Dufault.
She says they hope to be able to invite everyone back to the festival next year.
“It was much quieter,” she says. “We’re hoping for more next year.”
Dufault says the plans for the festival start several months prior to the event, which takes place every April. Performers have to have their applications in by January 31 if they would like to attend the festival.
Attending the event is free, says Dufault, and performers are encouraged to bring their families along. Each category of performance has its own adjudicator who ranks them. Once the festival is done, the adjudicator recommends some performers to play at the Showcase.
This year the Showcase is being held on May 5 at 7 p.m. at EPAC. Dufault says everyone is welcome to attend.
