The Drumheller and District Music Festival committee has set the date, March 14 to 24, 2016 for the oldest music festival in Alberta.  It is their 76th anniversary out of 86 years running.  For 10 years they did not have the festival due to the war.
    Each year hundreds of people sign up for choir, band, speech, dance and other fine arts.  Any one can sign up to compete and do not have to be formal students.
    Fine Arts students from Drumheller Valley Secondary School, Greentree Elementary and St. Anthony’s School will be participating in the festival.
    Once the adjudicator recommends the presentation, they will compete at the provincial level and could be recommended again to the Nationals. Annually the festival gives out approximately 300 scholarships for a total of $6,000.
    There are approximately 400 entries each year and Tracy Kakuk is the entry secretary.  Entries will be accepted starting January 2 and the closing date is January 31, 2016.  
    Lynn Edwards explained that the committee is always looking for more help and if you are interested in joining the board, they would be thrilled to have you.
  Amber Hodgson who takes care of the adjudicators will have their names in place very shortly.
    The festival would like to see more entries in the area speech. This includes poetry, story telling and Bible recitation.  Last year they had several Church leaders recite.

To join the board, please call Lynn Edwards at 403-823-7483.  To enter in the festival, call Tracy Kakuk at 403-823-5544 or 403-820-2493
  

    The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site is being recognized for its efforts being nominated for an Alberta Business Award of Distinction.
    The Drumheller attraction has been nominated for the Arts and Culture Award.
    “It is lovely for the Atlas, I think the Atlas is a forward looking historic site,” said Julia Fielding, executive director. “It’s kind of funny, we look after the past, but we are very forward thinking and I think to have that recognized, is great.”
    “Even if we don’t win, the fact that we will be with organizations from across Alberta, I think it will do wonders for the Coal mine.”
     The local Chamber of Commerce nominated the Atlas, and the valley is no stranger to the Award. Last year the East Coulee School Museum was nominated and the Canadian Badlands Passion Play was the winner.
    “Drumheller is such a great cultural place, so we have great things to put forward,” said Fielding.
    Over the last few years, the Atlas has grown into one of the major attractions to visit in the valley. It is in part because of its energetic staff, its work on preservation and its variety of innovative programming.
    The awards were created by Alberta Economic Development and Tourism in 1991 and were originally presented by the Alberta Government. In 1996, the Alberta Chamber of Commerce took over the management and presentation of the awards. These are presented annually to recognize businesses and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding achievement and contributions to their community, according to its website.
    Also nominated in the Arts and Culture category are the Cold Lake Public Library, the Friends of Medalta Society (Market) in Medicine Hat, and the Medicine Hat JazzFest.
    “The Atlas should be proud of everything it has done,” said Fielding.
    The awards will be presented at a gala on Friday, February 26 in Edmonton.