South Country Fair is a rural, peace-oriented, camping, music and arts festival that manifests itself annually just outside Fort Macleod, Alberta.
We like to think of ourselves as exciting but civilized - a bunch of "jolly escaped asses" as D.H. Lawrence might have described us, who observe a solitary rule of conduct: ’Eschew Obfuscation’ (in Englische: Avoid Confusion; sub-text - be harmless).
We are not an anomaly, but a part of a much larger phenomenon of Folk and Roots music festivals Worldwide. Check out WRAD.CA for a glimpse of what’s happening in Western Canada and beyond.
But, back to our little corner... since the late 80’s SCF has brought together all of the elements of old-world festivals and the heady and exotic flavours inherent to international ports-of-call, combined with very high production standards for a festival of our size, juxtaposed against a big blue prairie sky on the edge of a natural riparian forest.
Our attendance average the last few years has been 2,500, and you can expect to see almost anything on stage, from dub and rant poets, art films, ’street’ performers, scathingly hot Cape Breton fiddling, hot-blooded bag pipes or Flamenco guitars, cool sarod or santur, djembe and/or dadouk, screaming electric guitars and mandolins - pretty much everything under the Sun has graced our stages in the last two decades.
Four performance areas. Three days. Too much to see. One Old Man River.
And of course there’s the Crafter’s Mall, Kidz’ Kountry and an Awareness Tent, too. It all works together to provide a well-rounded, magnificent experience for everyone.
South Country Fair is held at the FISH & GAME PARK, on Lyndon Road. Once in Fort Macleod, 25th Street (the West bound one way). Just as you are leaving town, take the Golf Course turn (right) onto Lyndon Road, and go down the hill and past the Golf course, about a mile. The Fair is on your right at THE FISH & GAME PARK - you can’t miss it!
Got a question? Send us email! [email protected]
CAMP ETIQUETTE-RULES
NO DOGS
NO GLASS
NO UNATTENDED FIRES
NO AGGRESSION, FIGHTING OR SWEARING
NO CAR STEREOS, RADIOS OR BLASTERS TO BE USED IN THE CAMP
NO FIREWORKS
NO ILLICIT DRUGS
NO LIQUOR IN MAINSTAGE AREA
NO INTOXICATED PEOPLE ON SITE, NO UNDERAGED DRINKING
NO UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLES
BEACH IS CLOSED AT SUNDOWN. RIVER CAN BE DANGEROUS - DON’T SWIM ALONE.
SWIM AT OWN RISK.
NO LITTERING -- PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF.
USE THE PORTABLE TOILETS, NOT THE BUSH
RECYCLE IN PROPER BINS
GATE WILL BE CLOSED FOR ENTRY AT 1:00AM NIGHTLY
Complaints regarding behaviour will be treated on a two strike basis - first one gets a warning, second strike results in being escorted from grounds.
TICKETS
Early Bird Tickets (online only): $55.00 (tax included)
Advance Tickets (online & at venues): $65.00 (tax included)
At The Gate: $80.00 (tax included)
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE - COMING SOON WITH NEW WEBSITE!
12 years and under, FREE Admission - Students (13 - 17 years) & Seniors, $10 off Walkup weekend pass Prices
CAMPING
Although technically still FREE if you walk in with a pack, will cost $10 if you bring in a car, whether for one evening or the weekend. Day or evening parking is exempt, as long as you drive out after the show, and do not stay. Be warned that cars found without a camping pass or improperly parked or obstructing the roads in the camp will be towed.
These changes to our legendary open approach to access and camping reflects the new policy regarding camp security. If you are used to spotting your trailer early you need to know that there will be no exceptions.
Car passes are available by visiting our office on Main Street (318-24th St) Fort MacLeod, or by contacting us by phone or preferrably by email -- we would like to sell as many as possible in advance.
South Country Fair reserves the right to refuse sale of tickets or parking passes to anyone we deem incompatible with the spirit of The Fair. We also reserve the right to eject anyone who doesn’t know what the phrase ’don’t be stupid’ means. All ticket sales are final -- NO REFUNDS.
NO GLASS BOTTLES, SVP. Our environment crew & first aid volunteers are tired of cut fingers and feet. Cans and plastic, please. And thanks.
And of course as always - NO DOGS, SORRY!
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are vital to the South Country Fair. Each year our 300+ volunteers help us create a weekend of music and friendship for all who attend. In exchange for volunteering, you receive a discount entry to the Fair and a cool SCF t-shirt. Interested? Keep reading!
South Country Fair Volunteer Requisites
A desire to become involved in the Fair and meet new people
A willingness to treat other volunteers, performers, staff, and public with respect
A commitment of 8 hours over two shifts, to the crew to which you are assigned
Sign an agreement to fulfill tasks and minimum time commitment as agreed with your CREW COORDINATOR.
Volunteer Benefits
There are many, but a few of them are:
Becoming part of SCF and the broader festival Community in the bargain
Learn there is more to things than "a bottom line", or the "chain of command"
Settle back into your bones-and enjoy the moment
Remember what it is like to be treated like a person instead of a machine
A huge break on a weekend pass
A covetted SCF tee
Are you ready to make the plunge? Click here to email our Volunteer Coordinator Stasha Donahue volunteer4scf AT telus DOT net, or call 403-553-2346.
Note: We will do our level best to respect volunteer preferences, but ultimately have to fill positions as needed in many areas.
SUBMISSIONS FOR 2008
Due to the very high, unmanageable volume of interest the last couple/three years we have been forced to put submissions on hold for a while. It’s the price of our success, I suppose. To those who took the time and made the effort to submit something anyway our deep thanks, we will do our best to look at and listen to your material. If you sent something last year or the year before, consider it on file, and drop us a note if you have avails in our timeframe.
Please note we will only be actively contacting those artists we wish to express our interest in booking, which, if things go to plan should occur before March 15th. If you haven’t heard from me by then, please look elsewhere for other performance opportunities, and all the best.
Thanks again.
- Maureen Chambers A.D.
SPOKEN WORD
If you are into Poetry and other literary forms, you need to talk to Blaine Greenwood, mostvocal AT hotmail DOT com, 403-394-0999. We are lucky to have wordsmiths of excellent calibre in our midst who aren’t scared of anybody, or anything. Blaine and his partner Dee now coordinate Lotus Land, the word fest and workshop within our festival.
KIDZ KOUNTRY
If you are a children’s performer, this area likes to be unique as well, with musicians, clowns, puppeteers, stiltwalkers, face painters, and storytellers. We like to keep it magical, not doctrinaire...BTW, email is asparagus AT scfair DOT ab DOT ca
AWARENESS
We now have an Awareness Area. If you are interested in Healing, Wellness (Energy Balancing, various Massage techniques, etc), and other forms of health maintenance that the college of physicians has been trying to brand as heretical for the last five or six hundred years, call Patti Goodstriker in Edmonton - 1-780-431-0566, better yet, email her: pattigs AT gmail DOT com. Patti is also one very busy lady, so once again, be persistent! This is an exciting area that brings a powerful new facet to our Festival Community.
