2016 – That’s a Wrap!
Save the Date for Dauphin’s Countryfest 2017!
It wouldn’t be a summer festival in Manitoba without a little bit of weather. But an afternoon of grey skies and scattered rain didn’t dampen spirits on the final day of Dauphin’s Countryfest.
“It was a terrific weekend all around, with so many people pulling together to make a great experience for everyone,” says Eric Irwin, president of Dauphin’s Countryfest. “Thank you to our valued patrons – most of who come back year after year. Without you there would be no Countryfest. Thanks also to the thousands of volunteers who work hard to make everything happen. Without you, there would be no Countryfest either.”
The Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Main Stage kicked off with a tribute to Merle Haggard by Noel and Ben Haggard and The Strangers. Both sons sounded an awful lot like him, as they delivered some of his most renowned songs like Okie from Muskogee and Mama Tried. It really was the next best thing to having the legend himself play Countryfest. As a bonus, the grey skies cleared right up during their performance, as the sunshine made its first appearance of the day.
Terri Clark took over the stage next, with a heart-and-soul performance of hits such as Girls Lie Too and Better Things To Do, and showing once again why she continues to be a country music fan favourite.
Dwight Yoakam topped off the night, arriving late after weather rerouted his flight through Saskatchewan. That didn’t deter the near-capacity crowd from waiting it out until just after 11:30pm, nor did it deter Dwight from delivering a top-notch performance to the Countryfest crowd. He, too, paid his respects to Merle Haggard during his show, with a touching rendition of Silver Wings.
COUNTRYFEST BY THE NUMBERS
Number of shows: 74 performances on 3 stages over 4 days
Number of tour buses that rolled through: 21
Number of campsites utilized this weekend: 3130
Number of bags of ice used on site: 17,500
Number of perogies eaten in the perogy-eating contest: 450
Number of artist meet-and-greets during the weekend: 7
Number of lucky fans who got to meet-and-greet: 310
Number of members on Countryfest’s Board of Directors: 12
Number of full-time year-round Countryfest staff: 3
Number of volunteers who work at the festival: 2000
Number of years that Eric Irwin, Countryfest’s president, has attended: 27 (every single one!)
Number of years that Rob Waloschuk, Countryfest’s promoter and producer, has been booking the talent: 26
SAVE THE DATES FOR 2017
Dauphin’s Countryfest in 2017 will again celebrate Canada Day – with Countryfest sure to be the biggest and best Canada Day party in all of Manitoba! Save the dates! June 29 to July 2, 2017. And stay tuned for artist announcements coming soon…
ABOUT DAUPHIN’S COUNTRYFEST
The 27th annual Dauphin’s Countryfest took place June 30-July 3, 2016. Canada’s longest running country music festival has been attracting the biggest names in country music to one of the most beautiful regions of Manitoba since 1990. Situated on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park, the unique outdoor amphitheatre built into the side of an escarpment provides every patron a perfect view from any one of the 14,000 seats in the house.
Dauphin’s Countryfest is a not-for-profit organization that consists of a 12-member volunteer Board of Directors and a membership of more than 2000 loyal supporters. Organizers credit over 2000 volunteers who work tirelessly each year providing essential services for the festival weekend, while fundraising for their respective community organizations. In addition to various community contributions, Countryfest pays out approximately $150,000 each year to community organizations that provide services for the festival.
Dauphin’s Countryfest was a finalist at the prestigious Canadian Tourism Awards in 2013, nominated for Tourism Event of the Year. The festival was awarded the 2012 Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Dauphin & District Community Foundation, given to individuals or businesses showing the true spirit of philanthropy and giving.
CONNECT WITH COUNTRYFEST ONLINE
www.facebook.com/dauphinscountryfest
www.instagram.com/dauphinscountryfest
