OXBOW — The annual Bow Valley Jamboree, held Saturday at the Bow Valley Park south of Oxbow, was once again an overwhelming success, according to one of the event directors Carole Stewart.
With upwards of 800 attendees, the park was full and the energy was high. Music of all genres was highlighted, with eight different acts hitting the stage. From classic rock to pipes, folk, rockabilly and country, there was something for all ages.
With a surprise rain shower hitting the park just after 7 p.m., most of the crowd was forced to take shelter under the many tents in the park or find refuge in their vehicles. But this didn't stop Munro & Patrick and Soul Sensations from putting on a great show that kept many dancing in the rain outdoors.
After the brief rainstorm, most patrons returned to enjoy the rest of the evening of great music, featuring two more acts, the New Montagues and Karissa Hoffort.
Prior to the rain falling, the jamboree featured the talents of Kilted Wind, Dusty Rain, Winsome Kind, Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, and JJ Voss.
All of the acts were from Saskatchewan, with some having local connections. Many of the acts have received awards at different levels for their talents.
Surrounding the patrons at the festival were a variety of food options ranging from a beef dinner supplied by the Oxbow Lions Club, the Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Shrine Club's burgers and hotdogs, Reach Café beverages, Filipino food and the Get In My Belly food truck, featuring tacos, smoked beef and more.
Get in My Belly, a southeast food vendor, remained open until the event closed this year, providing warm food to those staying for the entire day.
An array of artisans displaying their talents were also featuring their creative pieces ranging from artwork, pottery and stickers and jewelry, to delicious breads and sweet treats. The festival also saw a display of local artwork, highlighting the talent of Oxbow and the area.
One artisan, Kristyn Mayer, had a surprise visit from a recently-engaged couple wanting a set of temporary engagement rings made to honour their special commitment.
"What a beautiful moment and highlight of the day," Stewart said.
For the children attending, the bouncy castle and children's activities are always a lot of fun. New to the festival this year was a rock-climbing wall.
A selfie wall, another new feature at the event, was a big hit. Attendees were encouraged to use the props to take pictures to post to their social media accounts, with a chance to win two tickets to next year's jamboree.
The Â鶹ÊÓƵeast Shriners were again in attendance to provide their people mover to ensure that the festival was accessible to all.
The event is a big undertaking put on by the local Oxbow Arts and Cultural Committee, consisting of 10 members. Luckily, they receive overwhelming support from their community in the way of volunteers.
"Because the event is expensive to host, it doesn't bring in much revenue. It is the committee's hope to bring in enough revenue each year to cover their costs in order to host again the following year," Stewart said. "From the overwhelming success and many positive comments received, the committee looks forward to hosting the next Bow Valley Jamboree on August 10, 2024."
For the first time, the Town of Oxbow held events in advance of the jamboree to try to attract people for the weekend.
The first was a family pool party Friday at the Oxbow Swimming Pool. Supper was served and then Winsome Kind started performing. Admission was by donation, with proceeds going back into the pool.
People from all ages attended.
Then the following morning, prior to the jamboree beginning, there was a show and shine on Main Street, with a variety of classic vehicles on display. A charity barbecue was held for the town cemetery's gazebo.
