As downtown Steinbach gears up for this year’s Summer in the City festival this weekend, the spotlight is firmly on community, music, and shared experiences.
From June 13 to 15, Main Street will be alive with sounds, sights, and flavours that draw thousands annually. Behind the scenes, organizers and performers alike are eagerly preparing for a weekend that promises energy, emotion, and entertainment.
Star-studded local line-up
Among the headline acts is High Valley, bringing their signature country-pop sound to the Friday night stage. Lead vocalist Brad Rempel says the band’s return to southern Manitoba is more than just another tour stop.
“It’s gonna be so much fun, a lot of singing along, kind of a big group karaoke situation,” says Rempel. “It’s been a minute since we’ve been back to Steinbach. All my family is from Winkler, so whenever we play southern Manitoba, that’s about as close to a hometown show as we can get.”
One of the band’s best-loved tracks, Young Forever, was born from a quiet family moment.
“My family and our best friends – my producer and co-writer – we were all at the beach,” he recalls. “Watching our boys playing football, I said, ‘I just wish they would stay young forever.’ That idea stuck, and we wrote it right there.”
Rempel’s lyrics often reflect his deep family values. “You can probably hear it in my songs, but I’m kind of obsessed with writing about my family,” he says. “We have a song called Dear Life that’s basically begging God to not let it fly by so fast.”
Rock nostalgia hits the stage
Saturday night will feature a double-header rock tribute from Drive This Way, fronted by Tommy Braga, performing the greatest hits of both Aerosmith and The Cars.
“Originally we started as an Aerosmith tribute in 2015,” says Braga. “There aren’t too many of these in the world – Steven Tyler’s a little bit of an unusual singer, to say the least. And about three years ago, we added the greatest hits of The Cars, and that kind of exploded.”
What started as an opening act evolved into two full-length shows. “They feed right into each other, and quite frequently people don’t know that the lead singer is the same person doing both of the artists that we’re tributing.”
Braga believes part of the magic is in the recognition factor. “The Cars are just incredibly underrated. People think they know a couple songs, and then realize, ‘Oh wait, there’s that one, and that one, and that one!’ They were a big part of the MTV generation.”
He adds, “We’ve been really pleased with the audience reaction – that makes all the work we put into it worth it.”
Organizers reflect on what makes it work
Festival chair Audrey Harder shares that one beloved attraction won’t be part of this year’s lineup.
“Unfortunately, there’s no car show this year,” she confirms. “We didn’t have someone with the right experience step up in time. It’s not just about parking cars on Main Street – it’s about doing it safely and well.”
Despite the cancellation, Harder is already looking ahead. “Next year it’s going to be a really good one. People are already talking about stepping up for 2026.”
For Harder, the lead-up is both a whirlwind and a joy. “It’s busy, it’s fun, and getting to see the people who come back to volunteer and support the festival – that’s the most exciting part.”
Her favourite moment? “Just before the festival opens, when the ferris wheel does its first turn. That’s when I know, okay, here we go.” For the full festival schedule, visit summerinthecity.ca!