Canmore Highland Games September 4 2011

Occurring annually on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, this festival showcases Celtic culture through a wide variety of events, including piping and drumming competitions, highland dancing, heavy sports contests and sheep dog demos. The events are capped off with a Ceilidh (translation: big Scottish party), complete with food, dancing and live entertainment.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday September 4th 2011, and further details can be found in the following press release:

It is said that the first Highland Games were organized in Scotland in the 11th century. During the reign of King Malcolm III of Ceann Mór (1058 – 1093), a brae o-mar (flat meadowland) along the River Dee was used in a royal contest to determine who the strongest man in the kingdom was. Competition included a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich, overlooking Braemar, with the winner made royal messenger. Our town of Canmore is intertwined with Malcolm and the Highland Games. The name Canmore is an anglicised version of the Gaelic Ceann Mór, which can be translated as big head, great head or chief. It’s also claimed that one of the inspirations for Baron Pierre de Coubertin, while he was planning a revival of the Olympic Games, was a Highland Games display he saw at the Paris Exhibition of 1889.

On Sunday, September 4, 2011, the Three Sisters Scottish Festival Society proudly present their 21st annual Canmore Highland Games at Centennial Park. This is one of the signature summer events of Canmore – a full day celebration of everything Celtic, including piping and drumming, highland dancing, heavy sports, sheep dog demonstrations, clan tents, Celtic vendors, and traditional food and beverages. As well, you’ll thrill to the powerful impact of pipes and drums played en masse at the grand finale of the Games events.

A pancake breakfast kicks off the festivities with live entertainment by Fiddler’s Green in our heated festival tent. Later, Tiller’s Folly, the Pacific Northwest’s internationally travelled, virtuosic ambassadors of Celtic song, will perform throughout the afternoon. Always entertaining and definitely unique, The Mudmen, a blast of Celtic energy whose members are known to be characters both on and off stage, will perform at the evening Ceilidh. The Mudmen have appeared many times on CBC television, performed on Parliament Hill for Canada Day festivities and recorded the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song. You can see and hear Tiller’s Folly at www.tillersfolly.com and The Mudmen at www.mudmen.ca.

The event continues to inject major revenue to the local economy, calculated to be 1-2 million dollars on average. Around 85% of the 6-8,000 people who attend the Canmore Highland Games are from outside of the Bow Valley, with many staying in Canmore for at least two nights. It’s easy for anyone to order advance ticket packages for the Games or tickets for the evening Ceilidh online through www.ticketpro.ca up to 6 pm the day before, but be quick for the Ceilidh, it’s always a sold out event.

Organizers are pleased to work with the Bow Valley Waste Management Commission towards a “Toward Zero Waste” event. You can help the Games achieve at least 80% diversion from landfill disposal to recycling by dropping off you’re recyclables at the resource recovery stations on-site.

Did you know that the Canmore Highland Games has its own tartans? Designed by local weaver, Dorothy Garen, they are woven by Fraser & Kirkbright Weaving Company and registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. The colours represent the green forests, blue sky and waters of the Bow River, the black coal underground, the white snow-capped mountains, the fuchsia mountain wildflower and yellow for sunny Alberta. See and/or buy our tartans and get more information on the Canmore Highland Games at www.canmorehighlandgames.ca.

Canmore Rocky Mountain Half Marathon

The 16th Annual Canmore Rocky Mountain 10k & 5k Run/Walk is on September 11, 2011.

Considered one of the most beautiful runs in Alberta, the CAUSE Canada Race is routed through woodlands, beside mountain streams, through a historic mine site and stunning views of mountain scenery. The track is a combination of asphalt and high quality gravel trail with several short climbs and winding paths.

Striving to be the GREENEST race in Canada, all possible products and procedure will be eco-friendly. This includes:

• Recycling virtually everything, resulting in a waste-free Start/Finish zone.
• Exclusively using compostable cups sourced from renewable materials.
• Operating support-bicycles along the race course, as opposed to typical carbon generating support-vehicles.
• Administering a paper-free registration process.
• Serving only BC fruit & locally made baked goods.
• We are Bullfrog Powered with 100% Green Electricity

All proceeds from the race will go towards women’s literacy, numeracy, and business training in Central America and Western Africa. CAUSE Canada’s Women’s Integral Empowerment Program (WIEP) is being made possible by revenues generated through partnerships with athletes like you!

Register online today at www.cause.ca/halfmarathon

Canmore Folk Music Festival July 30 to Aug 1 2011

Folk fans who just didn’t quite get their fill last weekend at the Calgary Folk Festival are going to be flocking down the highway this week for the 34th annual Canmore Folk Music Festival, July 30 to Aug. 1 in Canmore’s downtown Centennial Park.

The longest-running folk festival in Alberta, the Canmore Folk Festival is renowned for its intimate atmosphere, superb music selection and unparalleled backdrop of majestic mountains. Featuring more than 50 craft, community and food vendor booths, three workshop stages, three evening concerts and a free children’s concert, the festival annually draws 3,000 to 5,000 fans daily.

This year, kids will be entertained with crafts, a climbing wall, bouncy castle, clowns, jugglers, story tellers and much more.

Throughout Sunday and Monday on the workshop stages, magic happens regularly when musicians from around the world meld their talents and create the kind of impromptu kitchen party music of which memories are made.

This year’s line-up includes Canadian ukulele maestro James Hill, California’s David Lindley, Vancouver based band Delhi 2 Dublin, Canada songwriter Joel Plaskett and pride of Newfoundland, the Once.
For a full line-up, visit the festival website at www.canmorefolkfestival.com.

The weekend kicks off with a free Festival Friday at the Canmore Civic Centre, where Andy Donnelly from CKUA’s The Celtic Show will be broadcasting live from 6pm to 8pm, followed by live music from Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. On the same evening at 8.30pm there will be a U22 Showcase concert at the Communitea Café showcasing some of Alberta’s most promising young talent. Ken Whiteley entertains the young ones Saturday from 1 pm to 2pm in a free Children’s Concert at the Canmore Seniors Centre, and the advance ticket gates open Saturday at 3.30pm for the first of three nightly concerts.

Advance tickets are on sale via TicketPro on the Festival website, the Tin Box, Stonewaters Home Elements, or the Phone Store in Canmore or the Phone Store in Banff. The final chance to buy tickets at the advance ticket price will be Friday night (July 29) at the street event outside the Canmore Civic Centre. Tickets will also be available at the gate Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

For more information about the Canmore Folk Music Festival, including the schedule of events visit www.canmorefolkfestival.com.

24 Hours of Adrenalin

This exciting annual mountain bike event involves relay teams or solo riders competing to ride as many laps as possible in a 24 hour period. This year’s event takes place on July 23 2011 at the Canmore Nordic Centre, where you can see western Canada’s top mountain bike riders race against some of the best in the world.
The most gruelling way to compete in this race is as a solo rider, which involves up to 24 hours of riding. There are also 2, 4 or 5 person teams who would split the riding between them, meaning that each member of a 2 person team would ride for up to 12 hours, members of a 4 person team could expect to ride for up to 6 hours and each member of a 5 person team would be riding for 4 to 5 hours. The 2 and 4 person teams can be any combination of men and women, and within the 5 person category there are co-ed, female only, and age related sub-categories.
It is also possible to enter a corporate team of 6 to 10 people which could allow some team members to ride for just 1.5 hours, thus opening the event to all skill levels.
24 Hours of Adrenalin has been a big hit in Canmore in recent years, and it’s well worth coming as a spectator to view the race and experience the buzz around town. As the race takes place in the middle of summer, Canmore hotels are likely to be busy during this time, so early reservations are recommended.
For more details about the event, visit the 24 Hours of Adrenalin website.
To find accommodation in Canmore for this event, visit Canmore Hotels.com.

Canmore Ski Nationals Community Celebration 2011

From March 11-14 2011, the Main Steet of downtown Canmore will be transformed into a cross country ski track as part of the Canmore Ski Nationals Community Celebrations. As well as the opportunity to ski through town, there will also be lots of fun events happening throughout the weekend, as you will see in the following press release:

Ski Track and Community Celebrations Return to Canmore

What town dumps 850 cubic meters of snow onto their Main Street in March, just so they can go cross country skiing? Canmore, Alberta does!

Building on the overwhelming success of community activities surrounding the 2010 World Cup last February, the folks in Canmore are up to it again with the presentation of the Canmore Ski Nationals Community Celebration 2011, March 11 – 14, to welcome the 600 + athletes who will be in Canmore for the 2011 Haywood Ski Nationals, which are the Canadian Cross Country Championships.

Presented by the Canmore Destination Marketing Fund and The Canmore Downtown Business Association in association with the Canmore Nordic Centre this year’s expanded event will once again include a ski track on two blocks of Main Street and a host of activities for all ages. These activities will include many of the popular events from last year including JackRabbit Races, Dog Sled Races, Welcoming and Awards Ceremonies, Street Hockey, Fun Races and Public Use times.

New for 2011, will be a Block Party and the availability of free ski equipment loans from Trail Sports during public ski times. Chandra Crawford’s Fast and Female team are back for their 2nd urban experience and will be hosting a Ladies’ Pink Power Ski Night with prizes for best costumes. There will also be the 1st running of the Xterra Winter Triathlon which includes a swim, a run and finishes with skiing on the Main Street Track!

For more information on this incredible and unique event, including a full event schedule please visit www.downtowncanmore.com.
Canmore is having a party and we invite you all to come to town March 11 – 14 and Be A Part of the Excitement!

Canmore Children’s Festival May 21 2011

The Canmore Children’s Festival Society presents WOW! It’s a kid’s fest with a TWIST. Pick the family friendly option(s) that suit your time and interests. Morning (Yellow Program), Afternoon (Red Program) or Evening (Blue Program – featuring the inventive musical comedy of Juno Award winning Al Simmons). Each offers a variety of entertainment and activities that will be sure to please 3 – 10 year olds. Music, magic, stories, crafts, exhibits and just plain silliness abound. Please be aware that there are a limited number of tickets for each program. All the action takes place indoors at Canmore Collegiate High School (1800 8th Ave., Canmore).
Visit our web site www.canmorechildrensfestival.com for details.

Artspeak Arts Festival June 16-19 2011

The Artspeak Arts Festival in Canmore is an annual weekend event with cultural activities and performances presented by the Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation. The festival next takes place on June 16-19 2011 and most activities are free of charge. Visitors can expect to see visual arts, street performers, live music, an art fair, and art and photography workshops.
The festival calendar outlines some of the venues and times, although at the time of writing many of the details are still TBA
To find out more about this festival, visit www.artspeakcanmore.com
For accommodation in Canmore during the festival, visit www.canmorehotels.com