The annual Old Wives Lake Festival brings together history, culture, recreation and community pride. Festival-goers enjoy the street fair, engage with the fascinating and emotionally-told history of Mossbank, and many attractions (bouncy castles, face painting) in one weekend. The Town demonstrates the importance of deliberate action to reflecting its diversity through cultural performances, storytelling, food, and music. These evolutions in the festival build the relationships needed for deeper sharing, community cohesion and sustainability.

The Farmer’s Market featured over 30 vendors both local and out-of-town, education sessions about birdwatching which is a popular past-time in Mossbank, and the Bird Sanctuary’s viewing stations to catch a glimpse of the many species that make their home Old Wives Lake.

A thrilled Corky Rasmussen-Turner said; “I had such fun drawing caricatures, and I met some really friendly people! Thanks for letting me be a part of the festival!”.

One of the high points of the event is the famous blacksmith demonstrations, which is really where the festival began years ago and remains the only blacksmith in the province that remains on its original site with most of its original tools.

LloydFest, a two-day summer celebration, was the first to bring the atmosphere of carnival to Lloydminster.

It brought together over 23 ethnocultural communities for ancestral education and demonstration of intercultural linkages through dance, arts, and food. There were social opportunities for people to interact across many differences (age, gender, sexuality, ability, culture, etc.).

The high point of the festival was a colourful street parade lead by Indigenous Friends. Participants from different countries clad in beautiful carnival costumes made their way to Bud Miller picnic shelter on Saturday in the great sunny weather. It was a beautiful sight to behold with hundreds of attendees lining both sides of the road.

The event included a one-day beer garden at Lakeland College from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Bud Miller was filled with 26 tent food vendors selling food from 10 different countries for two days.