The first ever Light Up Prince Albert Festival 2025 is coming to the Prince Albert Exhibition Grounds from Aug. 14 to 16.
The goal of the festival is simple according to Cindy Koob, chair of the organizing committee.
“We are a group of volunteers and pastors who came together with one goal in mind, and that was to have a Christian festival that would be a safe, family fun festival that would be free to the public,” Koob said. “(It’s) also to give inspiration for overcoming some of the hard things we’re facing in society today.
“The speakers that we have coming have overcome gang life and homelessness, poverty trauma and addiction, and we’re hoping that this can make the difference in our community,” Koob added.
Koob said the event is free and will include inspirational messages that everyone can appreciate.
“The heart of this festival is love and we want people to experience love and overcome the hard things that we’re experiencing through the love of Jesus Christ,” she said. “We want families who otherwise couldn’t afford to do something fun to be able to come and enjoy the festival for free.
“We’ll have free food, bouncy castles, children’s programming, free movie nights for the kids. There’s going to be something for everyone.”
The event will also have a diversity of voices speaking to the issues and their faith.
“One of the things that I am most pleased about is the representation we are getting from the Indigenous and Metis community. There are a lot of really powerful inspirational speakers that are coming and we hope the public will take full advantage of the free gift that we’re offering to the community,” Koob said.
Speakers will include Chase Sinclair and Denny Heathen at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively on Aug. 15. Heathen’s address is called Broken Chains.
“Denny Heathen and Chase Sinclair are going to be talking about from Gangs to Glory: Overcoming the gang life and addiction,” Koob said.
“Those are two powerhouses that I can’t wait to hear. There are others that are really, really good speakers as well coming but those are two I want to highlight.”
Light Up Prince Albert runs from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Aug. 14 and 15. It will begin at 10 a.m. with a Walk for Jesus from the Redeemed Christian Church of the God-Victory Temple on 12th Street.
“I also would like to highlight from Homelessness to Happiness: A Story of Hope by Ross Cashman,” she said.
Cashman will be speaking on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage.
Koob said that organizers are hoping for an excellent turnout over the three days.
“We are also hoping that the community is going to get behind this and support it,” she said. “There are many ways the community can support it.”
Koob thanked all of the sponsors of the event and a number of churches in Prince Albert who also supported the event.
“If anyone wants to know more they can visit our website, lightupprincealbert.ca, our schedule of events is 97 per cent complete. There may be some minor changes, but they can see the great things that we are offering there as well as our list of sponsors on our webpage,” she said.
michael.olseksyn@paherald.sk.ca
