By Geoff Smith (@smithco)

Grants to support events that draw thousands to downtown

Nov 24, 2016 | 10:56 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Arts and cultural festivals are once again getting a boost, as they draw thousands of people to downtown Lethbridge.

The Heart of Our City Committee has named 23 events in 2017 as recipients, of a total of $120,000 in grants, with a goal of creating a more vibrant downtown. George Kuhl, planning intiatives manager with the City of Lethbridge, explained the recipients were chosen from 27 applicants, based on their proposals and the contribution they make.

“We have dance, we have theatre, we have music, we have participation events, so there’s quite a bit of variety,” Kuhl said. Many of the events are multi-day in nature, for a total of 92 event days spread over all 12 months.

More than 60,000 people are expected to be drawn to the events.

“We think it’s making a big impact,” Kuhl said. “We think people are coming downtown, enjoying themselves, spending a little bit of extra money in the shops as well.”

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The recipients are:

• Lunch and Listen Concert Series (various dates)
• Queen Scarlet Cinema (various dates)
• Newcomers Welcoming Event (Feb. 7)
• YMCA Family Day Event (Feb. 20)
• Pretty, Witty & Gay Festival (Feb. 25-Mar. 4)
• Proud (Mar. 9-11)
• Unabridged: Crossing Together, a Celebration of Stories (March 24-25)
• Into the Streets Quarterly Public Art Series (various dates)
• Feel the Beat (May 24-25)
• Soar Emerging Artist Festival (May 31-June 4)
• Pride Fest (various dates)
• Jazz at the Park (June 17)
• Community Father’s Day BBQ (June 18)
• Shakespeare in the Park (various dates)
• Homegrown: Canadian Artists (July 5-22)
• Roots & Blues Fest (July 26)
• Lethbridge Electronic Music Festival (Aug. 19)
• Love & Records (Sept. 16)
• Lethbridge Arts Days (Sept. 23-Oct. 1)
• Word on the Street Festival (Sept. 23)
• Oktoberfest YQL (Sept. 29-30)
• Lethbridge Society of Independent Dance Artists Fall Workshop (Oct. 14-15)
• Bright Lights Festival (Nov. 17)