The Olde Towne Plaza in downtown Okotoks continues to be the destination of choice for art and music enthusiasts in the town.
That’s why the Okotoks Arts Council is thrilled to see numbers rise over the summer for its Acoustic Summer Night and Art Markets.
The event is held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month and features local musicians, artists, and artisans.
President of the Arts Council Russell Thomas says that interest in the markets has grown over the years.
“Now it's building on a great amount of momentum that's been built up with the acoustic series that's been happening at the old church theatre for the last couple of years,” he said. “What we've seen is the music community coming together, sharing their talents, playing with each other and sharing it with the public. It is a really amazing step forward in terms of providing that kind of music to the community.”
The Summer Night and Art Market is made possible through the Arts and Culture Activation Grant from the Town of Okotoks. The grant was created to help increase the number of activities downtown through the summer months.
As for the attendance, Thomas says that hasn’t been an issue so far this summer.
“Each time, the seats fill up and we've seen also an increase in the variety of performers that come out. It's really quite something in terms of the calibre of the players and the performers,” he said. "They come out of the woodwork and it's incredibly entertaining and for people just walking around in downtown Okotoks on a summer's evening, it is a blissful thing to run into.”
Thomas says what gives him the greatest joy is not only seeing the full seats but the different local artists who share their work, anything from acrylic paintings to sculptures, and handicrafts.
That is on top of the musicians who grace the McArthur Stage each time at the Plaza.
Thomas added that the space is truly unique and offers a great experience for so many groups.
“It's a real wonderful venue to share the creative spirit of our community and bring a lot of positive energy to the downtown core in the summer.”
The final two Acoustic Summer Night and Art Market of the year happen on Aug. 6 and 20th.