Category vibrancy Show all
-
Things will be great when you’re Downtown
Share Things will be great when you’re Downtown on Facebook Share Things will be great when you’re Downtown on Twitter Share Things will be great when you’re Downtown on Linkedin Email Things will be great when you’re Downtown link
The arrival of the Labour Day weekend means the unofficial end of summer. It can, however, also be a time to look back at a summertime that featured a full return of happening events in Downtown Lethbridge.
An exciting range of activities have been hosted Downtown for the past several months, many of which had financial support through the City of Lethbridge, Opportunity Lethbridge, with the support of the Heart of Our City Committee (HOCC) through the Re-Imagine Downtown Activation Grant.
In late June, the new Festival Square opened and has already hosted nearly 25 bookings, not including the weekly Downtown Farmers' Market. The hugely successful Patios and Parklets has continued this summer, while the first Whoop-Up Days parade since 2019 returned to the streets of Downtown Lethbridge last week, which highlighted the significant improvements along 3 Avenue.
"We have been thrilled at the overall level of interest and the full return of events has been a great opportunity to continue enhancing and revitalizing Downtown Lethbridge," says Andrew Malcolm, Urban Revitalization Manager.
"Festival Square offers the Downtown and broader community a beautiful place in which to gather and celebrate," says Sarah Amies, Community Director for the Downtown Lethbridge Business Revitalization Zone. "The Lethbridge BRZ is delighted with the activation of and general interest in the space thus far and is busily planning winter season activities for all to enjoy."
Some of the new or returning events in Downtown Lethbridge for 2022 include:
- Artcade
- Arts In The Park
- Centric MusicFest Pop-up Concerts
- Downtown Farmers' Market
- Downtown Roller Jam with Roller Skate Lethbridge
- First Friday Lunch & Listen Concert Series
- Foodie Fest
- The Gate Church's Summer Fam Jam
- Horses in the Park from the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association
- History and Beer Tour
- Hootenanny
- Lethbridge ArtDays
- Lethbridge Electronic Music Festival
- Lethbridge Jazz Festival
- Lethbridge Pride Festival & Parade
- Outdoor Viewing Party of Amazing Race Canada, in partnership with Tourism Lethbridge
- Outdoor Viewing party for NHL playoffs Battle of Alberta Game 4 in the Core
- Oktoberfest YQL (which, after several years at Exhibition Park, will return to Downtown Lethbridge at Festival Square September 9 and 10)
- Pop Up Yoga
- Shakespeare In The Park
- Street Machine Weekend
- Upside Downtown concert and art series at Rotary Square outside Casa
- Wide Skies Festival
"Presenting events in Downtown Lethbridge has always been very important to The Geomatic Attic," says Mike Spencer, Director of The Geomatic Attic. "Our Wide Skies Music Festival was created in 2017 with one of the main goals being to celebrate and bring people to our beautiful inner core locations. In summer 2022, Wide Skies once again highlighted big talent touring musicians at unique venues, with shows at the top level of the City of Lethbridge Regional Park 'n' Ride Transit Terminal and then at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge parking lot."
Safety is a top priority for everyone and a concerted effort has been ongoing to add more people and activities to public spaces in Downtown Lethbridge. By having increased numbers of people visible in our public spaces, it discourages negative behaviours and increases the sense of safety and community. The Watch Program, Galt Gardens Security, the Clean Sweep Program and Parks Maintenance all continue to work together to create a safe play space for families.
"All of these events and activities generate extra foot traffic and have a collective positive economic impact for many of the small- and medium-sized businesses who call Downtown home, says Malcolm. "We look forward to more announcements for the winter months and, of course, into summer 2023."
Through the Heart of Our City committee and the Urban Revitalization Department, numerous programs and incentives are available to provide financial assistance that will continue to stimulate growth and development in the Downtown. More information here: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Downtown/Pages/Incentives-Programs.aspx
More information on Downtown Lethbridge can be found here: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Downtown/Pages/default.aspx and at https://www.downtownlethbridge.com/
-
Festival Square Market Plaza - Construction Update (Dec 2021)
Share Festival Square Market Plaza - Construction Update (Dec 2021) on Facebook Share Festival Square Market Plaza - Construction Update (Dec 2021) on Twitter Share Festival Square Market Plaza - Construction Update (Dec 2021) on Linkedin Email Festival Square Market Plaza - Construction Update (Dec 2021) link
Festival Square Construction Paused for Winter
Once concrete work is completed this week at Festival Square on 6 Street South, just off 3 Avenue, construction on the project will cease until the spring.
The portion of 6 Street between 3 Avenue and 4 Avenue is still closed to vehicle traffic, as the new concrete needs time to cure. It is anticipated that this stretch of road, as well as the adjacent laneway, will temporarily reopen by early January until construction can resume in the spring.
Construction fencing will be moved from the road and laneway but will remain around the plaza component.
With a June 2022 target date for construction completion, as well as a potential grand opening, the new Festival Square Market Plaza will be a versatile, active and engaging public space for people and the local businesses in the area. The main draw will be its offering as a year-round permanent market space with supporting infrastructure to support local producers, artisans, and craftspeople a place to sell their wares year-round. The project includes an interactive stage, entry signs, decorative column lighting, programmable lighting and site furniture, as well as water/wastewater servicing and lane rehab.
More information here: https://getinvolvedlethbridge.ca/ourdowntown
In July 2021, Lethbridge City Council voted 6-3 to proceed with a revised plan for Municipal Stimulus Program (MSP) funded projects which include the $1.71 million Festival Square Market Plaza, allowing Festival Square to proceed – without any City funding – to ensure that the project is delivered as an economic catalyst for downtown. The revised completion date will not impact the grant funding.
Full background here: https://www.lethbridge.ca/NewsCentre/Pages/Council-greenlights-revisions-to-Municipal-Stimulus-Program-projects.aspx
Third Avenue South between 4 Street and 8 Street in Downtown Lethbridge recently re-opened to vehicle traffic. That Reconstruction Project is nearing overall completion, with some minor work remaining to be done in spring 2022.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution in this area and follow posted detours.
-
Heart of Our City Activity Grants Awarded To Downtown Events for 2020
Share Heart of Our City Activity Grants Awarded To Downtown Events for 2020 on Facebook Share Heart of Our City Activity Grants Awarded To Downtown Events for 2020 on Twitter Share Heart of Our City Activity Grants Awarded To Downtown Events for 2020 on Linkedin Email Heart of Our City Activity Grants Awarded To Downtown Events for 2020 link
The Heart of Our City Committee announced today that it has awarded $126,000 in Heart of Our City Activity Grants to 21 events to be held in the downtown in 2020.
These events include a variety of music, arts and cultural festivals that will attract audiences and participants to downtown Lethbridge. Receiving funding are 14 multi-day events and 7 single-day events which will occur over a total of 117 days and are expected to attract more than 60,000 attendees to the downtown core.
There are a number of popular events returning including: Arts Days, Lethbridge Electronic Music Festival, Downtown Farmers Market, Word on the Street, and Wide Skies, to name a few. There will also be two new events this year including: Lethbridge Living Film Festival and Lethbridge Community Art Hive. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000.
“We’re pleased and proud to provide financial assistance on behalf of the City of Lethbridge to a really great array of events that will help achieve City Council’s goal of enhancing the vibrancy of our downtown,” says Dawn Leite, chair of the Heart of Our City Committee.
The Heart of Our City Activity Grant provides funding support to help Lethbridge organizations host events that foster an exciting, vibrant downtown and attract audiences to the heart of our city.
Details on the events receiving Activity Grant funding in 2020 are available at: www.lethbridge.ca/hocactivitygrant
