Clearwater’s annual Summer Stage is getting a brand new platform.
The musical entertainment event has been held the past two years on a temporary stage at the Dutch Lake Community Centre, but with a little funding help, it will have a permanent outdoor stage ready for this year’s first performances on July 5.
“They started (work) toward the end of April; volunteers laid the foundations, put up the stage structure and poured the floor, did the wiring and all the finishing work,” said Sam Willan, member of the North Thompson Music Guild that hosts Summer Stage.
“The purpose of the stage is for community events that happen in the summer, we’ve always had a temporary stage there since we started doing the music and so this will actually open up so more groups can use it.”
For example, Willan said the temporary stage wasn’t good for summer yoga or anything involving dance because the floor wasn’t even, but now with the permanent installation, it’ll be usable by these groups and others like the Clearwater Children’s Art Festival or anyone wanting to host theatrical performances.
The funding for the stage came from a few sources, she added, including a grant from Wells Gray Community Forest that paid for the intitial building of the structure.
Yellowhead Community Services and United Way kicked in funds for completion of the stage, with members from the North Thompson Music Guild volunteering the elbow grease to get it finished.
“Booking of the stage should be made through the office manager of the Dutch Lake Community Centre,” Willan said.
“A sound system can be rented through the North Thompson Music Guild as well.”
The first Summer Stage 2018 on July 5 takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. with local musicians hosting and providing the live entertainment.
The event continues through July and August every Thursday and is suitable for the whole family, but it’s recommended attendees bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on.
There will also be a concession onsite serving hamburgers and hotdogs, but bottles of water won’t be served as part of the guild’s green initiative, but Willan said it’s okay for people to bring their own.
“The North Thompson Music Guild is also proud to announce that we have joined with Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous and will be presenting indoor house concerts in the upcoming fall and winter,” she added.
“This will see us hosting touring musicians from across Canada.”
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