YORKTON — Organizers behind a new music festival in Yorkton say they hope the event will not only bring major Canadian acts to the region but also grow into a long-term source of community pride and economic activity.
The inaugural Living Skies Music Festival will feature a full weekend of live entertainment, food vendors and camping-style experiences, with organizers emphasizing support for Canadian artists and Saskatchewan communities.
"We're trying to bring something special to communities that have the community engagement to support something big like this," festival organizer Tarell Sterner said in an interview. "The economic impact is huge, but also the sense of pride when you have something like this happening in your backyard."
The two-day event will feature an all-day lineup on both Aug. 14 and 15.
Festival gates open at 3 p.m. Aug. 14, with performances continuing throughout the evening. The final scheduled act begins at 10:15 p.m., although the fully licensed venue will remain open until 2 a.m.
On Aug. 15, gates open at 2 p.m. and the site will again remain licensed until 2 a.m. Headliner Big Sugar is scheduled to take the stage at 10 p.m.
Sterner said the festival was created with a focus on showcasing Canadian talent while providing residents of Yorkton and surrounding communities with a major live music experience.
"We're going to get to the point where we have artists coming out that people from Saskatoon or Regina are going to be jealous that we have the shows lined up in Yorkton," he said. "It's going to be great the first year, and we're just going to keep getting bigger and bigger every year."
In addition to the music, festival-goers can expect a variety of food options. Several food trucks will be on site, including a mix of local vendors and operators from across Saskatchewan.
Harvest Meats is among the event sponsors, while FFUN Motor Group has joined as a presenting sponsor.
As part of that sponsorship, organizers are continuing to offer discounted admission. Festival attendees can save up to $60 off a weekend pass by using the promo code FFUN when purchasing tickets online.
Demand for premium passes has been strong.
"VIP is obviously limited, and I'm pretty confident it will sell out," Sterner said. "There will still be general admission passes, but if anybody is wanting VIP, they should probably grab them sooner rather than later."
Tickets are available online at livingskiesmusicfestival.com and in person at the Legacy Co-op Yorkton Food Store.
For Sterner, the long-term goal goes beyond a single weekend of entertainment.
"We're very confident it will become a legacy event," he said.
The festival is expected to draw attendees from Yorkton and communities throughout east-central Saskatchewan, with organizers hoping the inaugural event lays the foundation for an annual festival for years to come.
