WOTS festival to go ahead

By Jensen, Randy on July 20, 2020.

Community members shop through a variety of different market vendors selling books, music and movies at the last year's Word on The Street Festival at the Lethbridge Public Library. Herald file photo by Greg Bobinec @GBobinecHerald

LETHBRIDGE HERALD

Organizers of Lethbridge Public Library’s The Word On The Street Festival have announced that the festival will go ahead in September; however, in placing the health and safety of staff, customers, and community at the forefront, its format will be modified.

“We are anticipating that any physical gathering for events will still be limited in September,” says event organizer Elisabeth Hegerat in a news release. “And that if restrictions are loosened, there may be apprehension from members of the public about attending non-essential functions and events.”

The modified plan for The Word On The Street is to move the core of the festival online, run a virtual programming track, and extend the event to include a fall reading series.

At this time, festival activities include:

– Pre-festival events for the week of Sept. 14, including two to three streamed workshops/panels, and the launch of online self-guided activities such as an online escape room and the teen writing contest.

– Core Festival activities to run Sept. 18-19 that will include online programming with children’s, teen and adult authors.

– Local Indigenous programming to run the week of Sept. 21.

– A Fall/Winter author reading series that will run through October and November.

– Online ordering through the festival bookseller, the University of Lethbridge Bookstore.

“Though we’ve had to make some adjustments, I’m very glad we’re able to still go ahead with the festival this year,” Hegerat adds. “It may look and feel a bit different this year, but we still strive to create a festival that represents the diversity of our community, is accessible to all ages, and most importantly, well attended, lively, and fun.”

More information will be released as planning for the festival is finalized, and closer to the end of summer.

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