Despite weekend temperatures hitting 30C and lingering wildfire smoke, Calgarians weren’t letting the weather keep them indoors Saturday.
Thousands flocked to annual summer favourites including the 47th Calgary Folk Music Festival and Inglewood Sunfest, with many saying the conditions were a welcome improvement over Friday’s thicker smoke and intense heat.
“It could be raining and it’s not, so this is perfect weather,” said Sara Tkachuk of local pop-folk duo The Crickettes after performing at Folk Fest. “It’s Folk Fest, we expect it.”
Tkachuk and her musical partner Julianne Clease performed on the Folk Fest’s free Horizon Heating Stage, and garnered a sizeable crowd for 11 a.m. Clease said the weather really didn’t affect them, with both of their voices feeling strong.
“A breeze would’ve been nice every other song, but that’s OK,” said Clease.
The festival grounds on Prince’s Island Park remained busy throughout the day as attendees sought shade where they could and enjoyed misters set up around the site.
“It’s actually not too bad, honestly. This is our first Folk Fest, too, so it’s very exciting for us,” said attendee Chantelle Helman. “As long as we’re not rained out, it’s lovely.”
Ninth Avenue was packed for Inglewood Sun Fest in Calgary on Saturday. The heat and smoke didn’t deter crowds from flocking to the historic neighbourhood.
Calgary remains under a yellow smoke advisory as of Saturday. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), the city is forecasted to remain in the advisory through Sunday night, with AQHI maximum values potentially hitting 7.
Currently the index is sitting at 4, or the low end of the moderate-risk category. At that level, people can continue their usual outdoor activities, although anyone experiencing symptoms such as coughing or throat irritation is advised to reduce or reschedule strenuous activity. Those with pre-existing medical conditions, especially those affecting the heart and lungs, are at greater risk.
No stopping Folk Fest
Despite the improved conditions since Friday, Folk Fest is still ensuring attendees are safe and informed of the effects of wildfire smoke. In June, the festival released the Western Canadian Outdoor Music Festivals Guide to Wildfire Smoke, made in collaboration with Alberta Capital Airshed and the Government of Canada. The toolkit is meant to help outdoor festivals prepare for increasingly common wildfire smoke events, including practical measures such as providing water, cooling or cleaner-air spaces, and using real-time air quality data to guide decisions.
Many of those measures were visible at Folk Fest this weekend, with PurpleAir sensors installed around Prince’s Island Park to track air quality and cooling stations throughout the grounds for festivalgoers.
A few kilometres away, Inglewood Sunfest drew thousands to 9th Avenue S.E., where more than 200 vendors, food trucks, buskers and local businesses lined the historic main street for the annual community celebration.
“Everyone’s doing pretty good, they’re staying hydrated and the smoke has eased since yesterday, so we’re really happy about that,” said event producer Jennifer Renpel, who has been involved with the festival for more than 15 years. “Everyone here’s having a good time.”
Renpel said all the Inglewood businesses always allow people to fill their water bottles inside, ensuring everyone stays hydrated in the heat.
Jason Circus juggles knives while balancing on a precarious platform at a packed Inglewood Sun Fest in Calgary on Saturday.
While the smoke presented some challenges, it wasn’t enough to stop the entertainment.
Alberta performer JasonCircus, who performed three shows throughout the day, said the smoke can make it easier to lose his voice, but that the conditions were still manageable.
“I’ve performed in places much hotter than this,” he said. “I know how to manage my body enough to make it through.”
He noticed audiences were a little quieter than usual in the warm weather, but attendance remained strong.
“We got a good amount of foot traffic. I can feel that people are a bit lethargic from the heat,” he said. “But we got lots of people out, having a nice day in the sun.”
For many attendees, Saturday’s conditions simply felt like another Calgary summer day, but with just a bit more sun protection.