Organizers of the 35th Annual Canmore Folk Festival expect as many as 15,000 music lovers for the three day event this long weekend, with names like Ian Tyson and Bruce Cockburn acting as drawing cards.

In the shadows of the Rockies, the festival kicks off Friday evening with a free street party in front of the town’s Civic Centre.

“We have a live a broadcast of the Celtic Show,” notes Festival Artistic Director Sue Panning who says the performance starts at 6pm.  “Then from 8 until 9pm, we have Tom Coxworth hosting a free street party.  And we have Kim Churchill, who’s a very dynamic guitar player, harmonica player, singer/songwriter from Australia.”

Activities during the festival run the gamut, from main stage performances, to shows for children and work shops.

“But we also have, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, an off-site pub because our site itself is dry,” says Panning. “It’s an alchohol free site.  But we have an off-site pub where we feature our local artists and some touring artists from Calgary.”

The performances at Canmore Miner’s Union Hall might be your best bet to take in the festival.  Panning says tickets for the main stage shows — which include Tyson, Sunday night, and Cockburn on Monday night — are selling out quickly.  

For more information about the festival — and to buy tickets — visit the following link:  www.canmorefolkfestival.com