More people than ever kicked up their heels at this year's edition of an area Celtic music bash.The 13th annual Water Valley Traditional Celtic Folk Music Festival attracted a record attendance on June 25.More than 1,100 spectators and 264 performers attended the up-tempo event featuring musicians, storytellers and dancers showcased at 10 separate venues.ìThat is the biggest we've ever had,î said festival director Peter van Hal, who estimates last year's turnout to have been around 950. Van Hal said he attributes warm weather to the festival's larger draw.ìThe weather is the big thing,î he said, adding that word of mouth is also hiking the festival's popularity.ìEverybody was extremely happy.îIn addition to attracting spectators and musicians from across Alberta, the festival drew people from as far away as Manitoba.ìThere are a lot of performers that came from all over the place,î van Hal said.Included on that roster was Fiddler's Green, led by vocalist Ruth Purves Smith.ìI think it was very successful,î said the Carstairs-area product, who played her fourth set at the festival.ìThe weather was perfect. It was beautiful.îFiddler's Green's stage was the Water Valley Saloon.ìIt was packed the entire time,î Purves-Smith.Van Hal adds that for the performers, the festival has become a highly anticipated social gathering.ìThese guys know one another. They correspond or see their videos. Once a year, they meet.îPurves Smith agrees, adding that she enjoys the opportunity to take part in a Celtic cultural tradition called a session.ìIt's where all the different instrumentalists all sit in a circle and each person takes a turn picking a song and then they all play along,î Purves Smith said.ìThere were sessions going on all over the place.îReflecting on the event, van Hal said he was pleased with the number of new acts that joined this year's lineup of entertainers, but adds he was especially appreciative of the contributions by the Cremona-based Seven Fiddles Worth.ìThey're a young group of teenagers and these kids are growing up playing the fiddle throughout all these years and they become better and better each year,î van Hal said, adding that festival fans have enjoyed watching the local group grow.David Settles founded the festival, after being inspired during a trip to Ireland. Settles took note of a small Irish community's decision to fuel a music festival with performances by local artists rather than importing high-profile bands.The festival is hosted by the Water Valley Community Association. For more information, visit watervalleycelticfestival.org
