After ceasing celebrations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, airdrieFEST, a celebration of all things Airdrie, as well as the city's unofficial birthday party, is set to resume this fall with a mix of local vendors, live entertainment, and food trucks on Main Street.
While restrictions on in-person gatherings prevented any iteration of the street festival from taking place last year, the City is looking to host 160 businesses and not-for-profit organizations along with grassroots entertainers and demonstrators at the event's return this September.
The event is set to take place on Sept 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Main Street outside of Airdrie’s City Hall.
According to Kim Harris, community developer with the City of Airdrie, there has already been a lot of interest from local vendors since registration for the event opened up on July 15. She added the festival will be host to a mix of business, pop culture, and entertainment.
In 2018, the City of Airdrie hosted its first-ever Music on Main event for airdrieFEST, including a performance from country music star Aaron Prtichett. While the festival hasn’t announced a similar star-studded line-up for 2021, Harris said this year’s festival will still have a lot to offer Airdronians after a year and a half of public health restrictions.
“It’s really exciting for the City of Airdrie to be able to host [airdrieFEST] this year,” Harris said. “I think it’s been a long time coming for our community to be able to go out and I think that the community is going to embrace it.”
She added many businesses and not-for-profit organizations don’t have a storefront where they can present themselves to the community, and airdrieFEST is their opportunity to interact in-person and promote their business or organization to potential clientele.
While COVID-19 has impacted Airdrie’s business community in the last year and a half, Harris said vendors will have the opportunity to meet people, do give-aways, sell their products directly, and have a face-to-face opportunity at the event.
For-profit business can purchase an airdrieFEST booth for $105, while not-for-profit organization can obtain a booth for $55, according to a City of Airdrie press release. In addition, food trucks can register for the event for a fee of $200.
“We are thrilled to bring airdrieFEST back this year. Our local non-profit organizations and businesses faced an incredibly challenging year, and this will be a chance to celebrate their resilience and bring the community together,” said Harris in a City press release.
“I hope everyone comes on down and sees what Airdrie had to offer business and not-for-profit groups and enjoy the free day.”
For more information on airdrieFEST or to register your business, organisation, or food truck, visit airdriefest.ca