MOOSE JAW — The 73rd Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival concluded on May 15, marking its largest turnout to date with over 4,500 student musicians who travelled from across Western Canada to visit the Friendly City.
The four-day event once again transformed the city’s downtown into a vibrant hub of music, learning, and community spirit, as it has since the “Band City” days.
“Every year (the Band and Choral Festival) gets bigger,” said festival chair Janie Fries. “In 2019, we added a third concert band venue, and we (continue) to extend the length of our days to fit everybody in.”
This year’s festival featured 112 ensembles, including concert bands, jazz bands, and choirs, performing at the Mae Wilson Theatre, A.E. Peacock Centennial Auditorium, Hillcrest Apostolic Church, Zion United Church, and St. Aidan Anglican Church.
The popular “Moosic in the Park” series returned to Crescent Park, offering free outdoor performances that drew spectators — and well-deserved praise from Fries.
“The weather held out until the middle of Wednesday afternoon, just in time for the last band to play their last note,” she said. “The audience in the park was (also) excellent.”
The festival was a memorable experience for many. Darieus Brass, a Grade 6 student from Sturgis, Sask., shared his enthusiasm. “I really liked (a piece we played, called) ‘Mechanical Monsters.’ It's a fun thing to do,” he said about the festival.
Noticeable impact
The influx of visitors had a noticeable impact on the city. Mayor James Murdock toured some of the festival venues with Fries on the morning of May 14 and witnessed an overall positive atmosphere.
“I was talking to parents from Winnipeg, Brandon, Edmonton, and Calgary who were just in awe of the treatment (and)... the welcomeness that they were receiving here in Moose Jaw,” Murdock said. “And I think the great thing about music is that music brings people together.”
Murdock also received several comments from parents, who praised the accessibility and friendliness of the city. “Parents from Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg — they couldn’t believe how safe and walkable everything was,” he said. “The kids were giving themselves tours of the city. That’s what makes this festival special.”
Some families stayed as far away as Regina due to local hotels being fully booked, a testament to the festival’s economic impact. Donna Fritzke, executive director of Tourism Moose Jaw, noticed the difference — although it’s still too early to fully appreciate this impact.
“We’ve had busloads of children coming to see Mac the Moose, and that’s pretty fun,” she said. “Seeing families and kids downtown, it’s a great indicator of the festival’s footprint before the numbers even come in.”
The festival also received national recognition this year. The Canadian Band Association presented the Community Builders Award to Fries and Rick Evans of the Kinsmen Club for their longstanding contributions. “It (was) a lot of work, but it (was) so worth it,” Fries remarked.
Glitch list
Before the festival committee begins plans for 2026, it reviews what Fries dubbed the “glitch list” — a catalogue of things that didn’t go just right.
“There’s always some way to make (the festival experience) better,” she added. “But one thing that never changes is the Moose Jaw spirit.”
A new evening concert was held at Zion United Church this year, based on feedback from past participants. “It was a beautiful space with wonderful acoustics; it really worked for us,” she said.
While music remains the heart of the festival, it takes a dedicated community working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.
“We probably had about eight (additional volunteers) show up (this year), and they weren’t just one-and-done. Most of them came back two or three times,” Fries said. “We needed people who could go up and down stairs, carry gear — and they did it. That was huge.”
All said, the event left a lasting impression on attendees and was widely considered a success.
"I had a phone call from a director in Saskatoon today, and this was her first festival…,” Fries recalled. “And she only came to our festival because another festival that she had planned on going to… had to cancel because of the weather."
As a testament to the festival’s draw, she called Fries after returning home and “said, right off the bat: ‘We're coming back.’”
Even with ongoing downtown construction, participants remained enthusiastic. Fries pointed to the example of one group from Winnipeg that had never left their hometown before the festival.
“They were just here for the experience — and they had a great time,” Fries added. “I truly believe some of them will come back to Moose Jaw as adults.”
