Changing the perception of Ford City was the goal behind the first Dropped On Drouillard Festival this past weekend.
In the past, the event was referred to as the Arts and Heritage Festival, but Community Co-ordinator with Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal Karlene Nielsen says they wanted to add a more, "cultural urban street vibe."
There were skate-boarders, rock climbers, 16 bands, 27 vendors and live mural artists.
A little bit of everything here at the Dropped on Drouillard Festival. #cklw pic.twitter.com/5cGD4jYI1P
— Gord Bacon (@baconAM800) September 16, 2017
Nielsen says the Ford City Business Improvement Association headed up this year's festival with a goal to get people exploring the neighbourhood.
"We rebranded to more of a cultural urban street vibe, we have the street food, lowrider cars, skateboarding and graffiti, there is a heavy focus on art this year," she says."One of the main points of this festival every year is to draw people in to have a really positive fun different experience and come to Ford City change their perception of the neighbourhood and challenge that old stereotype and see something new here."
Nielsen says this festival had an older crowd.
"They wanted to mature the idea of our street festival, grow it up a bit, make it a little edgy, a little dirty, a little grimy and take a risk and what we are seeing today is a risk that has paid off 100%," she added.
Skateboarders participate in Dropped on Drouillard on Saturday Sept. 16. (Photo by AM800's Gord Bacon)
There were also seven mural artists working live at the festival which took place Saturday from 11am to 11pm.
— with files from AM800's Gord Bacon.