Art & Culture

Bearberry Heritage Arts Center & Hall

Housed in a rustic former ranger station in the foothills, the Bearberry Heritage Arts Center carries a wide range of exclusive giftware and art from local artisans. The center also acts as a museum displaying unique artifacts from an area that was a former Stony Tribe Hunting area and an early pioneer settlement.

HERITAGE ART CENTER – SEASONAL
1- 403-638-2704 (Barb)

The adjacent Bearberry Hall hosts a Performing Arts Concert series each year. The hall is open for group rentals (up to 150) and features a full service kitchen, outdoor BBQ, stage, RV hook-ups, camping areas and horse-shoe pits.

Bergen Rocks Sculpture Symposium

Witness the beauty of creating monumental sculpture. Each year internationally renowned sculptor artists from around the world turn 100,000 lbs of sandstone & marble into art on a rural acreage near Bergen (8 km south of Sundre). An on-site sculpture garden showcases works from previous years. An adjacent rustic barn is transformed into a world-class art gallery.

2009 artists: Cuba, Kenya, India, Viet Nam, Ireland

West off HWY #780, at the Junction of Pioneer Lodge Road & RR 5.4
1 hour North of Calgary
http://mortonsculpting.blogspot.com/

Bowden Pioneer Museum

Take a guided tour through the boomtown history of Bowden. This unique museum, housed in the town’s former curling rink, and an adjacent church, showcases Alberta’s pioneer musical instruments, the Bob Hoare pioneer photo collection, and a fully stocked 1900’s hardware / general store. The museum also features an “Eastern Star” exhibit – the world’s largest fraternal organization admitting both men and women – and a stunning contemporary-life exhibit of AVON collectables.

Part of the Country Drive

2011–20 Ave, Bowden, AB (22 km north of Olds)
(403) 224–2122
http://museum.anwc.net

Botanical Gardens (Olds College)

The Olds College Botanical Gardens are a collection of 10 specialty gardens, with each bed featuring its own personality and display of prairie flora. This living classroom conserves landscape design, applied research and environmental sustainability. Located at the Olds College, minutes from the historical Uptowne Olds District and Olds Fair Grounds.

4500 - 50th Street, Olds, AB
www.oldscollege.ca/botanicgarden/index.html

The Bud Barn Museum

The largest private collection of Budweiser memorabilia in the world is beautifully displayed in this fully restored 90 year old heritage barn just 11 KM from Didsbury. This 20,000 item Museum chronicles Budweiser's promotional journey from 1867 to the present with neon lights, steins, tap handles, signs, diecast cars, trucks, planes and more. Enjoy a hayride, visit the on-site Museum store and café. Individual, family and group visits by reservation. Hall rental for every kind of get-away also available. This "Unbelievable" Museum is Directed By The Neapolis Historical Association and is suitable for all ages.

Carstairs Roulston Museum

Housed in a 1901, 2-story pioneer home and adjacent church, the Roulston displays hundreds of artifacts from the early years of rural life in the small town of Carstairs. Collections include fashion, photographs, furniture, appliances and articles from daily life.

The Roulston hosts unique events enabling visitors to interact with the past. Join community story-tellers on a personalized journey with “Reminisce”. Experience pioneer rural life with your tastebuds at the “Ye Olde Time Sweete Shop”, or the annual Pioneer Dinner. Join the community for a mid-summer garden party or a special Christmas Concert.

Didsbury Museum

This provincially designated historical building served the community as a school house (1907), a hospital (1918) and a WWII training area. As a museum, it chronicles the history of Didsbury’s growth from a Mennonite service center, through the Boomtown years, to the present.
The museum collection an old physician's office, an early railway, and a school classroom with artifacts from the military, an Inuit heritage collection of baskets, bone carvings, and memorabilia from Amy Wilson, the first white nurse in the Yukon.

2118 - 21 Ave, Didsbury, Alberta

403-335-9295
http://public.museums.ab.ca/museums.cfm?ItemID=39&StartRow=1

Innisfail Pioneer Village

Stroll through the streets and buildings of early rural Alberta. This 2 acre village features 17 buildings furnished with the business and daily home artifacts of life along the Calgary – Edmonton trail in the early 1900’s. Unique features include early fire engines, a T-model ford, chuck-wagons, tractors, gas pumps and more.

From June – September, the village offers a formal afternoon tea (2 – 4 pm, $3 per person). Other special events include a vintage car show, Quilt Show, Pork Berry Swing, and a special Pioneer Village Christmas.

SEASONAL (May – Sept):
Mon – Sat 10 am – 6 pm
Sun & holidays: 12 noon – 5 pm

52 Ave and 42 St, Innisfail, Alberta

403-227-2906
www.innisfailhistory.com

Mountain View Museum (Olds)

Turn of the Century Pioneer life is displayed in artifacts and preserved in historical records at the Mountain View Museum in Olds. Learn about the Battle of Olds and the growth of this unique, forward town whose history was formed by some of Alberta’s most unique and unusual characters. Special features include an art gallery and special programming.
Housed in the former AGT building in Historic Uptowne Olds, the museum hosts a range of art events, including the launch of region-wide ARTWALK.
YEAR ROUND (summer & winter hours differ)
Summer: Mon – Fri 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sat 12 noon – 4:30 pm

5038 - 50th St, Olds, Alberta

403-556-8464
www.oldsmuseum.ca

Mountain View Music Fest

Year round concerts bring together new and established musicians from across the country in feature performances throughout Mountain View County - Culminating in an August weekend music fest. This very unique music weekend is centered in Carstairs Memorial Park with an incredible line-up of headliner performers and dozens of bands, satisfying nearly every musical taste bud known.
In what can only be described as “Woodstock with family values meets small town fair” – the Mountain View Music Fest fills the stages, nooks and crannies of this small Alberta town with a weekend of professional musicians (and the occasional celebrity flipping burgers). Add to the mix – an art gallery, artisans market, beer gardens and food concessions for a weekend you will want to experience.
YEAR ROUND: Various Concerts
MUSIC FEST: 2nd Weekend in August

www.mvmusicfest.ca

Otter Pottery

A fine art gallery and store of pottery by artist David Todd is housed in Sundre at Otter Rafting Adventures HQ. David combines electric kilns and primitive barrel firing techniques to produce unique art emulating David’s portrayals of the Rockies, the endless skies of Alberta, and the river that flows through his town. Additional elements such as salt, ferns, and steel wool create uncontrollable effects that produce one-of-a-kind art with glazes that David created from the ashes of local trees.
YEAR ROUND (Call for viewing appointment)

829 Main Avenue West, Sundre, AB

403-638-5177
Toll Free 1-800-661-7379
www.otterpottery.com

Sundre Pioneer Village & Museum / World of Wildlife

The Sundre Pioneer Village contains historic buildings of early pioneer life in the foothills along the historic Cowboy Trail. Visit the Bergen School, built in 1908, complete with bell and bell tower, original desks and books; the Pioneer Cabin built in 1913, The Ferryman's House and the old James River Ranger Station. There is also a fully operational blacksmith shop; a barn set up with stalls, mangers and antique equipment; and a Youth Museum, built by and for young people. The main museum displays historical artifacts chronicling the lives of early pioneers and the challenges they faced.

211 - 1st. Ave. SW, Sundre, Alberta

403-638-3233
http://museum.sundre.com
http://museum.sundre.com/wildlife_exhibit