One of the most affordable area music festivals returns again this weekend with the Badlands Boogie, and on top of the bang for your buck, proceeds go to support the preservation of a historic site in East Coulee.

The Badlands Boogie runs from Friday to Monday, August 31 to September 3, and will play host to a variety of diverse musical performers and genres over the long weekend. In addition to day passes, festival passes are available for $75 which includes camping and amenities.

Organizer John Barry Graham says this year will be one of the festival’s best.

“We’re all excited for this weekend because, number 1, we hear it’s going to be a nice warm sunny weekend. We’ve got some amazing acts lined up and a lot of the regular bands are back but we also some great new performers, including a band touring from Mexico,” he says. “We appreciate all the artists for donating their time.”

Approximately 20 performers will hit the stage, with artists including the alt-rock band Them Suits, southern blues folk solo artist Joey Pringle, rock-folk-punk three piece ACES, the Beautiful Scars, Set in Stone, a Mexican three-piece band, and local artists include rocker Layne Syversten and Kathy Brown.

Proceeds from the event go to support the East Coulee truss bridge, a beautiful relic of the past which has been threatened with demolition. A group of locals have been working hard to fight for its preservation, and this event is an important revenue stream for their efforts. The profits are being held in trust by Heming and Associates law firm in Strathmore.

There will also be a number of food trucks serving different dishes.

The event takes place at Picture Coulee, a beautiful badlands landscape located at the historic Graham Ranch. The festival boasts incredible ravines, hoodoos, hiking trails, and photogenic landscapes.

Tickets and additional information are available on the festival’s eventbrite.ca page under Badlands Boogie 4.

It is shaping to be another great year at DVSS with new staff and renewed energy.

  Principal Curtis LaPierre says registration is strong with more than 500 students signed up, although they won't know final numbers until school begins. This follows the previous year where there was substantial growth.

    “Last year in the second semester we had 503. Last September, I was expecting 446 and we landed at 492,” he said. “So I planned really well this year and we have more teaching staff, so if even another 30 walked through the door we would be fine.”

There have been a number of staff changes. He said DVSS welcomes Janel Berg who previously taught at Carbon School. She will be teaching Junior and senior high ELA and social studies. Dana Alsafi comes from Ontario to teach senior high ELA. Stephanie Topic is also coming from Ontario but spent the last six years teaching in Australia. She is teaching high school Math.

Gillian Augey will be back at the school teaching English 30-1 and 30-2. She will also be doing some team teaching with Berg and Alsafi.

The school also welcomes Dana Yemen as an associate principal. Originally from Delia, she has been teaching in Three Hills for the last number of years. Cindy Sereda will be back teaching Cosmetology and Home Economics. She is doing a job share with Christine Burfield who will be teaching math and choir.

The school is continuing with some programs it recently introduced. This is the second cycle year for Enterprise and Innovation program and the Health Care Aid Program will be going into its second year. There are 13 registered.

“It is a partnership with Campus Alberta Central and Red Deer College,” said LaPierre. “This will be full certification and they finish with a post-secondary certificate."

    He adds that last year of the nine students that were in the program, one is registered in a licensed practical nursing program, and four are working to become registered nurses.

The International program is also going strong with 83 students. Of these, 70 will be at the dorm while 13 will be homestays. They are coming from North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

“It makes for a very unique environment,” said LaPierre.

Staff is back at the school this week and the first day for classes is Tuesday, September 4.