The streets of Red Deer will come alive with art, theatre, dance and a festival of lights during Alberta Culture Days next weekend.
Red Deer has been chosen as a host celebration site for the province’s largest arts and culture celebration — which means tons of activities and displays can be experienced across the city from Sept. 25-27.
Among the biggest local events is the third-annual “Light Up the Night” Nuit Blanche festival, held next Saturday night in the Rotary Recreation Park, by the Red Deer museum and outdoor pool at 4501-47th Ave.
The after-dark festival that runs 7 p.m. to midnight will celebrate Central Alberta’s rapidly growing and diverse arts community in an atmosphere of glowing, tree-top lights.
This year’s festival promises more interactive entertainment. The family-friendly event will feature live art, music, dancing, artisan vendors, and a kids’ zone.
There are also opportunities to take participate in several live installation pieces, partake in food-truck fare, and a craft beer garden.
Alberta Culture Days events will actually begin on Friday. These include:
l A pop-up Global Gallery at 5000 Gaetz Ave., on the east side of the Scotia Bank. The Central Alberta Refugee Effort is hosting a wide array of artworks created by artists from different cultures, as well as providing snacks, crafts and performances from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
l The launch of the Red Deer Reads book Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, at 6:30 p.m. at the downtown branch.
l A family dance at Festival Hall, next to the Memorial Centre. The Two Bit Bandits band from Calgary plays country, classic rock and pop, and “jukebox oldies.” Presented by the City of Red Deer, Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society, Country Pride Dance Club and Red Deer Arts Council. Tickets are available at the door or from www.countrypridedanceclub.ca.
Some events start on Friday, but go longer, including an art exhibit at Artribute Art School in the Old Court House.
It’s opening reception with refreshments is Friday from 6-8 p.m., but the display of landscapes by Galia Kwetney and Kim Toth continues on Saturday, and also includes environmental posters, collages and mixed media works by students.
Also running both Friday and Saturday are Bull Skit comedy nights at the Scott Block. The live improv and sketch comedy comes with mature language and themes. There’s also a cash bar. Tickets are available from www.BullSkitComedy.com.
More family fun is on from Friday right through to Sunday at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery with the Kids Celebrate interactive exhibition about different global celebrations. Kids can also try their hand at encaustic art, melting crayons at the museum 1-4 p.m. on Saturday.
Art by Robert F.M. McInnis will also be exhibited from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon at RDC’s downtown space, the Welikoklad Event Centre.
Besides Nuit Blanche, other Saturday-only events include:
° Another pop-up gallery, featuring works by local artists, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Scott Block. Access will be from the back of the building.
It’s presented by the Red Deer Arts Council and the Central Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association.
° There’s sidewalk chalk art and music in the downtown, as well as a heritage and public art information table at Ross Street and Little Gaetz from noon to 4 p.m.
° An open house will be held at the Central Alberta Immigrant Women’s Association at #110, 5017-49th St.
° There will be two free screenings, at 2 and 4 p.m., of the locally made Ignition Films movie Year After Year at the Red Deer College Arts Centre.
° Against the Wall Theatre’s Calf Skit will entertain families with an interactive fairy tale from 1-2 p.m. at the Hub on Ross Street.
° A public art demonstration, dance extravaganza, and repurposed jewelry sale, benefiting the Global Enrichment Foundation, will be happening at the same spot from 2-4 p.m.
° You can swing to the blues music performed by Kat Danser at the Golden Circle, from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are available in advance and at the door. For more information, please call 403-343-6074, ext. 107.
On Sunday, you are invited to take a peek inside some city-run spaces that aren’t normally open to the public, including the water tower, the museum archives.
It’s free and runs from noon to 4 p.m.
The RDC Symphonic Winds will also put on a children’s concert at the RDC Arts Centre from 2-4 p.m.
For more information about Alberta Culture Days events, please visit culture.alberta.ca/culturedays/.