On the 20th anniversary of the annual music festival, the Sandy Creek Gospel Jamboree has planned one last weekend packed with toe-tapping tunes to send the event out with a bang.
July 19-21 will be the last year of the gospel festival, which is featuring a number of musical acts from a few different genres down at Besant Campground, just outside of Moose Jaw.
Karin Konkel, one of the longstanding organizers of the festival, will be sad to see the festival end but finds that the work the committee undertakes to plan a great event is a lot to handle.
“We decided that we'd rather go out with a bang than let it just fizzle out,” said Konkel. “This year is looking to be a really good Jamboree and that's what we wanted to do, end strong.”
Familiar MCs Ken Overcast and John Duerkson will be returning one last time, to introduce the crowd to each performer during the non-stop musical show.
Performers this year are coming from as close as Moose Jaw and as far as Tennessee, and include The Trudel Family, the Amundruds, the Torchman Quartet, Phil Calloway, and the Eros Family.
Jackson Heights will also be attending, which Konkel herself is excited for; the country group has been playing for years as the Dixie Melody Boys and recently reunited, and took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry.
The shows begin at 5pm on July 19, with Bobby Bowen taking the stage first, continuing until 9pm that night. On July 20, the stage will be busy from 8am until 9pm, closing off on July 21 with performers from 9am until 4pm.
A full schedule of performances is available on the Jamboree’s website.
There is a pancake breakfast scheduled for Sunday morning at 8am, and a noon worship service between the acts.
Konkel recommends festival-goers bring along their own chair, and to bring cash for both gate admission and the concession that will be running all weekend, as well as any musician merchandise that may entice you.
Admission is purchased at the gates, with a weekend pass priced at $90. For those looking to just stop in for one of the three days, the cost goes down to $30 for Friday, $45 for Saturday, and $35 for Sunday. Kids under the age of 13 are granted free admission.
Konkel emphasized that the festival is family-friendly, and they often see kids each year enjoying the outdoor music.
“It's a great event for any age. It's not just geared at old people, said Konkel. “It's a really great family event.”
She encourages people to come down and check out the talented acts, as it is the final iteration of the beloved jamboree and there is a genre for everyone to enjoy — from bluegrass to contemporary.
