Time is ticking down to this year’s Blueberry Jam Music Gathering.
The festival will take place from August 11-13 at its familiar home at the Flinty Campground and will still heavily feature either local talent or musicians with local ties. Tentative schedules have been released for this year’s event. Signage for the Jam was erected near the Flinty Campground over the weekend and preparations are continuing for both the festival site and the musicians who will play at it.
This year’s edition of the Jam, the second of its kind to be held following the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin with a festival blessing and performance by the Silver Evening Star Singers at the Flin Flon Station Museum at 4:15 p.m. From there, the events will move to the main stage area and to the secondary stage, located at the Rotary Wheel, which will play host to what organizers are calling the “Blueberry Wine Bar.”
On night one, the Rotary Wheel entertainment will run from 5 p.m.-9 p.m., with main stage entertainment going on from 4:45 p.m.-12 a.m., capped off by a Cranberry Jam set. Day two will kick off at 12 p.m. with youth performances on the main stage and other acts on the stage until after midnight, capped off by a set by Jam debutants Flinty’s Hammer. At the Rotary Wheel, musicians will perform from 2 p.m.-8 p.m.
The final day of the Jam will open at 11 a.m. with a hymn sing led by Faith Krah and include music from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Rotary Wheel and main stage entertainment from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Schedules and performer slots are subject to change as the Jam nears.
Some changes to previous Jams are anticipated. The wooden dancefloor in front of the stage has been removed and the space will be available for seating, while organizers are planning to hold a small market for businesses and artisans along both sides of the access road in the Flinty Campground near the stage. Pets will also be barred from entering the festival grounds, with exceptions being made for service animals. The beer garden will also be moved further back from its previous site to accommodate the market. Arts officials have also ordered jars of blueberry jam to be sold at the event.
Organizers have reached a partnership with Calm Air which will mean deep discounts on flights to Flin Flon before the Jam. From August 2-17, the airline will provide up to a 65 per cent discount on plane tickets to Flin Flon. Fees and surcharges for those flights will still apply.
Volunteers and vendors are still being welcomed for the event and can register online at flinflonblueberryjam.ca.
