ATHABASCA – With COVID-19 cases falling and vaccination rates increasing in the region, the Magnificent River Rats Festival will return to Athabasca’s Riverfront Park July 1, as part of Canada Day festivities.
The Magnificent River Rats Festival Society made the decision at its Tuesday night meeting to try to pull off a one-day event on short notice after initially expecting to cancel the long-running event for the second straight year.
Usually a two-day festival that starts on June 30 and ends with a fireworks show in the river valley at dusk on July 1, the 2021 festival will run only on Canada Day in conjunction with a reverse parade in the morning and fireworks in the evening.
Details are still being finalized and will largely depend on Alberta Health regulations for social gatherings, but the society is hoping to welcome residents and visitors into a new, restriction-free world.
The lineup for music and entertainment is already filling out, and will feature Dirt Road Angels, Martin Kerr, the Richard Woodman Band, Brianna Lizotte, popular local rockers Delirium and children’s entertainers Flying Bob’s Circus and Hawkey Studios.
Watch for more details as they become available and pick up the June 8 edition of Town and Country This Week to get the latest.
