Lethbridge College celebrates 60 years with Couleefest, a big free party in the middle of campus, Sept. 23.

“It’s a big celebration for the College’s 60th anniversary,” summarized organizing committee Chair Kari Bird, noting the event has been a collaborative effort between students, faculty and all of the departments.

“ We felt we should something special for our sixtieth anniversary, so we thought holding a big, free party  on campus would be perfect,” she continued.
 There will be events both indoors in the food court as well as a beer gardens outside where four bands will be playing beginning with opening ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. with eight Indigenous dancers and drummers.

 They will be followed by local country band Hurtin’ around  2 p.m., then local  blues rock band the Steve Keenan Band will follow around 3 p.m.. Local funk/ rock/ disco/pop orchestra Hippodrome will be on stage around 4:15 p.m. and Calgary based east Coast style band 3 Finger Shot, will end the festivities with a set at 6:15 p.m.

Get the Word, outside the Lethbridge Public Library downtown, Sept. 23.
 Another exciting Artsfest begins with the seventh annual Word On The Street, Sept, 23 outside the downtown branch of the Lethbridge Public Library.
 Some of the highlights include plenty of authors, live music from Karen Romanchuk, The Bryant Watson Duo, Junkman’s Quire, Beyond Crimson, Dale Ketcheson and Kavanagh and Hepher, food trucks and a lot more.

“There will even be a life sized ‘Where’s Waldo,” noted festival director Elizabeth Hegerat, noting there are a few new features this year.
“Kapow Comics will have a comic and graphic novel tent with local comic creator Eric Dyck and Calgary comic artist Sam Hester. And the Piikani First Nations will be bringing their tipi,” she said.

Word on the Street have expanded the kids’s tent this year with appearances by authors Margaret Ruurs (Stepping Stones), “ Governor General Award winning author and illustrator Barbara Reed ( Picture A Sky), Ruby Slipperjack (Dear Canada:These Are My Words) Kevin Sands ( The Assassin’s Curse) and  Svetlana Chmakova (Brave).

Hegerat is looking forward to author Joy Kogawa author of Obasan and the recently released her memoir  “Gently to Nagasaki.”
She is also excited to feature Ian Hamilton, author of  “The Courturier of Milan,” which is part of the Ava Lee series.

There are plenty of Southern Albertan authors participating including Calgary based author Sharon Butala and local author Richard Stevenson.
 Word on the Street begins with a Blackfoot Blessing from Elder Francis First Charger who will also be sharing Blackfoot stories at noon, which will be followed by a scavenger Hunt beginning at 11 a.m.

Hegerat is looking forward to a panel discussion “ What To Do If A Cartoonist Moves Next Door featuring Eric Dyck and Sam Hester.
 There is a bigger Blackfoot presence at this year’s festival with  the tipi set up demonstration at  11:15, which will host Blackfoot stories with Francis First Charger at noon, a Blackfoot Language lesson with Beverly Hungry Wolf at 1, a pow wow drumming workshop with Jaron Weasel Bear, at 2 p.m., a Métis culture and history lesson with Rod McLeod at 3 and much more.

There are also collaborations with other community groups including the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, who present  Story-time with Tad and Tomo at 1p.m. and  Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and area presenting Minyo Dancers at 4:14.  The Lethbridge Pride Fest feature storytelling with drag queens at 3 p.m.

 But why restrict interest in books and reading to Word on the Street, you can get your library membership renewed for free at Word on the Street.
“It’s bigger and better than ever,” enthused Lethbridge public library communications co-ordinator Bernice Duguay.
“We’re hoping we’ll get more people than last year,” Hegerat added.
The full schedule is online at https://thewordonthestreet.ca/lethbridge/.
Word on the Street kicks off a week of arts related fun with the seventh annual Arts Days festival, which is part of the 14th annual Art Walk, which pairs local artists with local businesses, in which they will be creating art on the spot in several cases.

“We’ll have 75 artists in 40 different venues around downtown,” said Allied Arts Council project co-ordinator Muffy McKay.
“We‘re planning a lot of different events with a lot of events that were already happening this week,“ McKay continued.
After checking out  the ArtWalk and getting your passport stamped through “Stomp N’ Stamp” and entering your name into a draw for an original painting by local artist Aaron Hagan, stop by Galt Gardens, Sept. 29 and 30 for a beer and German themed fun with Oktoberfest

 It’s a great week for metal, with a couple of excellent metal shows happening at the Smokehouse.

 On Sept. 23 , the U of L Headbanger’s Society present their first show of the season at the Smokehouse with  Vancouver rock/ metal  band Of Artistry with local rock/metal bands Caste of Shadows and Sidestepping the Sun and To The Mountains Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door, Doors open at  6 p.m.
 If that wasn’t enough metal in your face the next night, Sept, 24, get ready to bang your head and thrash the night was with veteran Calgary metal band Divinity who  are supporting their new CD The Immortalist. They will be joined by Vancouver’s Expain and local screamo band the Avulsion.
 The early show starts at 8 p.m. There is a $10 cover.

For the diametric opposite  to that, get your ’90s pop fix this week as the I Love the ’90s tour stops by the Enmax Center, Thursday, Sept. 21 with Vanilla Ice, Salt N’ Pepa, Rob Base, Young MC and CC and Music Factory.
 Tickets are $65, $85 and $102. The show begins  at 7 p.m.

The Smokehouse features a big hip hop show in between all the metal, Sept. 22 with Pimpton’s Canadian tour stopping by with special guests Kwame Dolo and Dusty Wallace and local support from Trey Mark, LRev & Heavy Knowledge, Knox and xRGx.
Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Also on Thursday, get ready to laugh as the Jokers Gone Wild tour returns to Casino Lethbridge. This month features Lars Callieou, Martin Mor and Gordon Souther. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.

The Slice is all about rock this weekend with local bands To The Mountains From the Flame and Quick Draw performing at night on Sept. 22. Gabriel Thaine is playing a special, laid back happy hour show at 5:30 p.m.
 On Sept. 23, the Slice features Vancouver indie pop band Goodwood Atoms, Saskatoon punk band Owners and local indie rock band the Utilities. There is a $10 cover for the show, which begins at 9 p.m.