As the leaves change colours and a crispness comes to the air, it’s time to make plans to go to the 52nd Algoma Fall Festival, with an incredible array of events throughout the month of October, in Sault Ste. Marie.
“The Algoma Fall Festival showcases Canadian award-winning artists, writers, singers, and chefs, to enhance our Northern community by bringing the experience of excellence in the visual and performing arts to our community,” explained Tiana Trutenko, Algoma Arts Festival Association President.
The Festival kicks off with two special events featuring the Awesome Music Project, Oct. 4 and 5. “The evening performance on Oct. 4 will be at the Art Gallery of Algoma,” explained Trutenko. “It is a celebration of art and music, featuring veteran Canadian musician Sarah Slean, and musicians and storytellers, Rob Carli and Kim Slade.”
The show will take place surrounded by the exhibit, “Cobalt, a Mining Town and the Canadian Imagination”, featuring work by the Group of Seven and other Canadian painters of the time.
Saturday morning at 11 a.m., the Awesome Music Project hosts Slean, Carli, and Slade, will deliver a creative workshop using storytelling, music, and art, to improve participants’ wellbeing also at The Art Gallery of Algoma. Art supplies are provided.
Another incredible stand-out of this year’s festival will be on October 16 at The Water Tower Inn, when award-winning Anishnaabe author Tanya Talaga and Canadian documentary filmmaker Mike Downie will discuss Truth and Reconciliation, and Talaga’s new book, #1 bestseller, The Knowing.
Downie, together with his brother, Tragically Hip’s frontman, Gord Downie, were captivated by the tragic story of Ojibway child Chanie Wenjack and told the story in the incredible multi-media project, The Secret Path.
“This will be an unbelievable and deeply moving evening of sharing,” said Trutenko. “It’s a must-see experience.”
For fans of the culinary arts, Algoma Fall Festival presents An Evening with Emily Richards, local chef and cookbook author, on Friday October 18 in The Pavilion at the Water Tower Inn. “Emily will share recipes and tips from some of her cookbooks, tell her story, and demonstrate some of her favourites,” explained Trutenko. “Audience members will get to enjoy some food tasting throughout the evening, as well.”
The Algoma Fall Festival will also feature a fantastic concert by award-winning Canadian musician Hawksley Workman on October 17, a lyric writing workshop with Canadian musician Amy Sky, an incredible show featuring Cape Breton family band Barra MacNeils, and finally, on October 25, a pub night with the East Coast band, 6 Hearts.
“Audiences have an opportunity to see a wide variety of performances and events in intimate venues across the city of Sault Ste. Marie throughout the month of October,” said Trutenko. “They are truly unique experiences that will energize, delight, inform and inspire you.”
For more information about the Algoma Fall Festival, and to purchase tickets to events, visit the website at https://www.algomafallfestival.com/.