Saturday booked for Word on the Street Festival

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 13, 2022.

Herald Photo by Ry Clarke Lethbridge Public Library will host this years Word on the Street on September 17th at the main branch downtown.

The Word on the Street Book and Magazine Festival is back in person this year going on September 17 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Lethbridge Public Library Main Branch downtown.

This year is the library’s twelfth year hosting the event, bringing lineups of authors, panels, workshops, live music, and activities around the block and inside.

“We are all very excited to be welcoming everyone back to join us in person,” said Elisabeth Hegerat, festival organizer and manager of Community and Economic Advancement at the library. “We have a great lineup of authors, performers, local musicians, story time activities, stuff for the whole family.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held across multiple days online in the last two years, and was able to keep the core part of its programming going in a virtual space. This year the event will return to one day and host in person and virtual experiences with lots of activities.

“We are one of four different Word on the Street festivals across Canada. It started in Toronto, and we are happy to be part of a national organization like this,” said Hegerat. “The goal of the festival is to promote the love of literature, literacy, and the spoken and written word in all its forms.”

The festival offers a chance for authors and readers to connect and experience something new. The library is hoping to see around 5,000 people over the day.

Events will kick off at 11 a.m. with a Blackfoot blessing from Elder Francis First Charger, along with Blackfoot dancers.

Workshops will include a teen writing workshop at 4 p.m. hosted by Emily Victoria on the Teen Zone Stage, along with a Drop-in Comics Jam Session with Eric Dyck on the Words in Motion Stage from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Leah Hebbel, Alberta Health Services photographer, will showcase a collection of photos taken throughout the pandemic at 3 p.m. on the Lethbridge Herald Author Stage.

“As part of our kids’ program, to wrap up the day we have a special presentation. Members of some of the students involved in the Rocky Mountain Book Awards, an Alberta Wide Reader’s Choice Award for grades five to eight, will be presented the medals to the 2022 winning author, Wesley King,” said Hegerat. The event will be on the Kids’ Zone Stage at 4 p.m.

“We hope for some good sunny weather, with not too much wind. So come on down and join us,” said Hegerat. “We will have six stages running all day with adults, kids, and teen authors. Some great workshops going on, and a great lineup of Indigenous speakers joining us.”