One of Drumheller's longest-enduring events has decided to take a year off.
The Drumheller Music Festival, now called the Drumheller Performing Arts Festival has been a staple in the valley for over 80 years, only missing performances due to wartime and most recently the pandemic.
President of the Drumheller Performing Arts Festival Jaclyn Skytt sent a letter to teachers and performers indicating the committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2025 season.
“This was not an easy decision for the committee. We understand that this is disappointing for many – Festival is a key performance opportunity in our community, however, it is an important step in ensuring that Drumheller has a performing arts festival for many years to come,” states the letter.
The Festival is a tradition where students have the opportunity to play before professional adjudicators who provide feedback and encouragement. Thousands of youngsters have participated in everything from spoken word to music and dance. It culminated in an awards ceremony and final performance.
“Our primary goal is to strengthen our organization and enhance the quality of festival we offer to participants and audiences alike,” states the letter. “We believe by taking this time to build out membership and explore new strategies for registrations, we can create more competitive and engaging festivals in the future.”
“We are committed to ensuring that the Drumheller Performing Arts Festival remains a vibrant celebration of the arts in our community and we are looking forward to returning in 2026.
