BONNYVILLE – A green light has been given to the organizers of the Summer Rush Music Festival to begin planning for the next festival.
On Nov. 23, MD of Bonnyville council approved the Concert License Application submitted by Wild North Eclectic Society, a non-for-profit organization, to host its second annual Summer Rush Music Festival on Aug. 25, 26 and 27, 2023.
The location of the festival will once again be situated on private land that overlooks Long Bay between the City of Cold Lake and Kinosoo Ridge.
Presenting the licensing application to council, Esther Quiambao, the MD’s general manager of Planning and Community Services, said that given the controlled success of the 2022 event, administration recommends the approval of the society’s 2023 concert license.
The society is proposing the event take the same format as the 2022 event. The format includes on-site camping, a family-friendly environment, limited ticket availability, a farmer’s market, a licensed bar and workshops for activities such as yoga, meditation and macramé.
A maximum of 500 general tickets will be available plus the addition of about 100 musical artists, volunteers and vendors, according to the society’s concert application.
The Summer Rush Festival will provide an opportunity to highlight and support a variety of local talent as well as small businesses and artisans, described Quiambao.
Organizers intend to draw talent from across Canada that perform Indie, Folk, Alternative Rock, Blues and House music.
“It was a very positive event, a lot of people from out of town came for that,” noted Coun. Ben Fadeyiw, who moved to approve the 2023 concert license.
Before council voted, Coun. Josh Crick asked if any complaints were made regarding noise disturbances caused by the festival over the summer.
Quiambao stated that no complaints were received by the municipality following last year’s event.
The motion to approve Wild North Eclectic Society’s concert request was carried.
Updates on the second annual Summer Rush Festival will be shared through the event's website, www.summerrushfestival.com
