For more than 20 years the Heart of the City Music and Arts Festival has taken place in Giovanni Caboto Park as a free, family-friendly celebration of music and art. Instead of a two-day festival, this year the organizers opted to run a music jam during the afternoon of Saturday, June 5th. Participants and volunteers were given a t-shirt and enjoyed bannock from Tee Pee Treats and Caribbean food from Island Spice Food Truck. A small art tent hosted crafts and kids were encouraged to join the fun with drums, shakers, ukeleles, and whistles. The weather held and not a drop of rain fell from the sky, despite a rainy forecast.

The afternoon began with youth performances hosted by the Well Network, a local social enterprise with a mission to coordinate creative programming. Heart of the City alumnus and McCauley darling Stella Johnson delivered an amazing show while jammers signed up to secure their spot on the lineup. After dinner was served, local band Tiger Coffee performed. 

Next was the sing-along, and songbooks were passed around the crowd. In the booklets were the lyrics to six pre-selected songs. Jammers were invited to sing and play along. During the next half hour, the sweet and joyful sounds coming from the collective voices of the participants filled the park with harmonies. Following the sing-along, the musicians who had signed up for an open mic spot got their chance to perform. Finally, at 10 p.m., Heart of the City wrapped up production after a successful show.

Heart of the City was reduced to a one-day event this summer, but the organizers are planning on delivering more programming throughout the year, and we need your help. If you would like to volunteer with the festival, visit our website at heartcityfest.com.

Rachael Roberts is a board member with the Heart of the City Festival, where she has volunteered since 2013, and recently joined the board of Boyle McCauley News. She is a mother, a teacher, and a lifelong Edmontonian who loves this community.