Even though this week we’re free to rant about anything we choose I’m actually quite drawn to the fallback prompt: if you could write about anywhere in Edmonton, what would you write about? The instinct is to write about what you know, namely your neighborhood, your workplace, your favorite haunt, etc. Strangely enough for myself the place that comes to mind when I think about my Edmonton is not really actually much of a place at all: Gallagher Park.
During 4 (now potentially 5) days in August Gallagher Park becomes its own community as people come from all over the city for Folk Fest. Anyone who knows me is aware that during 4 days the world outside of “the hill” ceases to exist. Festivals are of great abundance here but this festival has taken on a life of its own. You get to know the people you wait in line with, forming lifelong relationships, many of which exist only for the duration of the festival. My family that seems only to see each other in passing these days always makes sure we’re together sharing plates of green onion cakes and elephant ears (sugar laden euphoria!). It has this ability to bring people together.
A huddle of people in the brisk morning air, breath visible, eagerly awaiting the local
kids to come around selling muffins and coffee.
Music of all varieties travelling through the air from all directions.
The sound of feet scurrying along the plastic walkways.
The refreshing scent of fresh rainfall on the grass.
A hill of a thousand tiny flickering lights.
And the view of downtown Edmonton, with the sun setting behind the buildings. You just can’t top it.
I have lived in the same community all of my life, and yet I feel more at home in our makeshift community of music lovers. The people of the city come together and transform the hillside into something amazing. I’m a firm believer that a place is only as good as the people that occupy it, and folk fest is a prime example.
I love that you wrote about the Folk Fest for this blog post. I thought about writing about it too but I didn't know how to word the way the Folk Fest makes me feel. For me it's a sort of place and time in Edmonton that transports me from the city itself and plants me in an awesome new environment with the most creative and artistic people from all over the place. Your post defined this festival the way I see it to; but you were also able to connect it more-so with Edmonton in saying "The people of the city come together and transform the hillside into something amazing". I have to keep reminding myself that these are 4 amazing days that exist within this city and that is something we should all be proud of.
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