Ed Fest returns to Cranbrook’s Rotary Park this September, marking 100 years since the famous escape of Charlie Ed the elephant.
The family-friendly festival runs Sept. 18 and 19 and features two days of live music, local performers, art installations, workshops and evening beer gardens.
The festival celebrates Charlie Ed, who escaped from a visiting circus in 1926 and wandered around Cranbrook and nearby communities for almost a month. Ed Fest, now in its fourth year, is an annual celebration of Charlie Ed’s wonder, spirit and perseverance.
Charlee Organ, an event associate at Key City Theatre and head co-ordinator of Ed Fest, said the local event is also a celebration of Cranbrook’s arts community.
“Ed fest is an arts and music festival held in Rotary Park at downtown Cranbrook, to celebrate the local artists and creative minds throughout the community,” said Organ.
The festival features a variety of musical genres from Canadian artists. Performers include My Son the Hurricane, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Brass Roots, Heather Gemmell, Cara Luft with Clayton Parsons, Side Hustle and several local groups.
“We have a bunch of amazing musical performances, some that I like to note are My Son the Hurricane, Lemon Bucket Orkestra and the Dean Smith Trio. It’s going to be pretty wild, pretty crazy.” Organ said.
Organ said the live music will be playing throughout the entire festival, and it’s one of the main attractions, along with the beer gardens of course.
“I feel like a lot of people often come for the beer gardens, especially for the music portion of it. The music will be playing throughout the entire festival, but the nights are mostly only music.” said Organ.
On Friday visitors can watch live painting, buy local artwork, take part in a lantern-making workshop, or take part in a new activity prior to the beloved Lantern Parade.
“We also have a bunch of new additions this year like something called a crankie story time. It’s called An Elephantastical Tale by Rico and Sioux B, in which a hand painted, I think 16 foot long piece of fabric is cranked in a circle, obviously to see the story of Ed as it goes by.” said Organ.
On the second day of the festival, visitors can take part in the Elephant Stampede.
“Then there’s also the Ed the Elephant Stampede where we have our 16 foot tall elephant puppet, handmade by Marcel Dou Roig, stampeded through the farmers market joined by circus performers and everybody gets to chase it and join in on the parade.” said Organ.
The festival is a free, family-friendly event that will have something for everyone to enjoy.
“It is completely free. The only things that you have to pay for are obviously at the food trucks and at the beer gardens, but other than that, it is a completely free event open to everybody and anybody.” said Organ.
A complete schedule is available at edfest.ca.
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