Everyone’s invited to catch the celebratory summer groove at the grand opening of downtown Red Deer’s Ross Street Patio this week.
Soulful torch singer Marla Torgerson will get things sizzling with kick-off performances on the outdoor stage at 11:45 a.m., and 1:15 p.m on Friday, June 6. Then effusive local band Soulful Noize will continue the party with 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. shows, along with green art demonstrations by Michael Huyzer.
Performances on the Patio will continue every Tuesday and Thursday during the summer from 11:45 to 1:15 p.m. Some featured entertainers for June are saxophonist Claude Godin on June 10 and 12, the group One Day in May on June 17 and 19, and singer Joal Kamps on June 24 and 26.
The first Patio Party of the season runs from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 4. The Jesse Roads Band will strike up some rocking tunes, followed by roots musician Levi Cuss.
The next Patio Party, on Friday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. will feature singer Alecia Aichelle, followed by Craig Moritz, presenting a perfect segue to the weekend.
The last Patio Party of the summer will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5. Local favorites, the musicians of St. James Gate will bring their high-energy Celtic music to the outdoor stage to bid a rollicking good-bye to the summer of 2014.
In the meantime, other can’t miss special events are also happening on the Ross Street Patio, including a Sunday, July 6, performance by an award-winning Vancouver children’s entertainer. Norman Foote will share some of his acclaimed music, outrageous props and off-beat comic routines from 2 to 4 p.m. (Kids are invited to come early for a 1 p.m. photo scavenger hunt in the nearby Cenotaph Park.)
The Japanese drumming duo Blooming Tree from Edmonton will put on a boisterous Patio show “celebrating the power and passion of the human experience” on Sunday, Aug. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information on other Ross Patio events as they arise, please visit www.reddeer.ca/bestsummer, or follow @RDBestSummerEver on Twitter.