On the bright side, Saskatoon will again be a festival city this summer. Most big events are back in action and in person, demonstrating a relative return to normal.

However, the effects of the COVID pandemic still linger — and they are largely financial.

The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, for example, is altering its model and changing locations to keep expenditures affordable and attendees’ tickets “reasonable..”

“As we return to full-scale operations in the post-COVID era, our festival model must evolve in order to provide the highest quality of programming at the best possible value for our patrons,” said executive director Shannon Josdal.

“While we will miss our old home at the Bessborough Gardens, moving the TD Mainstage and festival grounds to Victoria Park will allow us to create a heightened festival experience while keeping ticket prices reasonable.”

The Jazz Festival will offer six days of free programming followed by four days of ticketed concerts on a day pass system. “Ultimately, our goal is to make

the festival more accessible,” Josdal said. “Victoria Park has the space and location to make that possible and we can’t wait to welcome Saskatoon to our new festival site.”

Anita Smith, artistic and executive of Saskatoon Fringe producer 25th Street Theatre, said the biggest challenge facing her festival coming out of COVID-19 is inflation.

“The cost of everything has gone up, but our funding levels have either remained stagnant or are no longer available,” she said in an interview by email.

For example, the federal and provincial governments provided funding at the height of the pandemic.

“It is free for everyone to attend the outdoor portion of our site, but

that doesn’t mean it doesn’t cost us anything to produce this 10-day event.

“I encourage people to buy a ticket and see a theatre production. Support the artists from afar and from here at home by purchasing a ticket, buying something from the artisan market or a food vendor, throwing some money in the hats of buskers and our street performers, and if they have available funds please consider donating to the Fringe.”

This year’s Fringe will, however, run for 10 full days and feature 18 productions and 126 performances at three venues. There will also be carnival games, a licensed area, and hands-on arts activities.

“It will be very similar to what people experienced in 2022, with one exception,” Smith said.

“We will once again be closing Broadway for two of those days (Aug. 5 and 6). The bulk of the outdoor portion of our festival will continue to be on 11th Street East and in the park behind Ecole Victoria (W.E. Graham Park), but we are happy that we are able to bring the main street element back in with the support of the BBID.”

Meanwhile, Taste of Saskatchewan, which took over Kiwanis Park for 25 years for a week each summer, has been cancelled for 2023.

SaskTel Centre, which operates the event, has cited rising costs as well both for hosting the food festival and for the restaurants that populate it.

Food vendors have been struggling with soaring food costs, staffing and other issues. It remains up in the air whether the festival will return.

There are still many events to take in this summer. Here is a listing of some of the bigger festivals.

NUTRIEN CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL

June 1-4

Kinsmen Park, 619 25th St. East, and virtually via YouTube

Tickets $10 Daily Admission

SASKATOON PRIDE FESTIVAL

Fabulous Futures

June 9-18

SASKTEL SASKATCHEWAN JAZZ FESTIVAL

June 30-July 9

One-day adult passes are $75. Among the big acts are Amanda Marshall, Serena Ryder, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and Margo Price.

SHAKESPEARE ON THE SASKATCHEWAN

July 7-Aug. 20

Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Dark Lady

Tickets and schedule information coming May 7 for three-play subscriptions and May 13 for single tickets.

NESS CREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL

July 13-16

For those wanting to get out of town, the Ness Creek Festival site is 20 km northeast of Big River, Sask.

Tier 2 tickets $175

With Ellen Froese, Irish Mythen, Leonard Sumner, Qairo, The Pack A.D. and more

FOOD TRUCK WARS

July 27-29

Fourth Avenue Downtown Saskatoon

THE FRINGE

Aug. 3-12

W.E. Graham Park and 3 theatres, The Refinery, Broadway Theatre and the Cosmo Seniors’ Centre. 18 productions, and the usual street scene with food vendors, an artisan market, and more.

SASKATOON FOLKFEST

Aug. 17-19

Various locations

ROCK THE RIVER

Aug. 18-20

Bessborough Gardens

3-day pass $195, daily $69.50

Acts include Streetheart, Chilliwack, Tom Cochrane, Crash Test Dummies, Men Without Hats, a Flock of Seagulls, Gowan, Carole Pope, April Wine, the Kings, Honeymoon Suite

• Joanne Paulson