Annual event will continue on throughout the weekend

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There has been something special going on in Miramichi for 51 years.

Enlarge Photo

Grace Trowbridge photo

Special guests for the evening event were the Landry Family. From left: Allison, Alexander, Fred and Terry Landry. Son, grandson and great-grandchildren of Ned Landry put the crowd on their feet with their music.

The annual Miramichi Folksong Festival has been taking place all this week in the town. Locals and tourists alike have been celebrating the tradition, which has stayed similar to its original format for the last 51 years.

"I've been directing it on a volunteer basis for 26 years," says director of the festival, Susan Butler. "When I came in we kept the old, but also brought in some new."

Butler says very few festivals are able to keep their popularity, while still maintaining their roots, but she says that this particular one certainly has and that must mean they are doing something right.

"I think it's so successful because the people who are involved with it believe in it," says Butler. "Also, we're one of a kind. There are no other festivals like ours."

Anybody looking to head out to the Miramichi to catch the end of the festivities can enjoy a luncheon beginning this morning at 11:30 a.m. There will be music to enjoy while dining. Tickets can be purchased at the door and cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. The closing concert will take place this evening at 7 p.m. with Oran performing. Admission is a freewill offering and all events are taking place at the Beaverbrook Kin Centre, 100 Newcastle Blvd.

Butler says that while weather and other circumstances have made for a slow tourist season, the festival is just as busy as any other year. She says she's very thankful for the local people and the die-hard fans from out of town who have come out to support the festival.

"The highlight of our festival was Wednesday," says Butler. "Alan Kelly, who will be 105 years old next month, sang 'When The Battle's Over' and dedicated it to the soldiers in Afghanistan and he never missed a word. Everybody gave him a standing ovation at the end."

The Landry children also performed at this year's festival. Butler says they charmed the audience as they always do. She says it is refreshing and comforting to see so many youth participating passionately in the festivities.

"Watching the children's program, you're watching the future of the festival," says Butler who has seen it grow from three days to six days in her time as director. "I mean, the festival could go on forever with that type of involvement."

Butler is extremely pleased with the way this year's festival ran. She works with a team of about 15 volunteers and some students they hired to serve the meals. She says that although she hopes that somebody takes over her position when she's ready to give it up, she doesn't plan on doing so any time soon.

"I always said I would stop when it stopped being fun, but I'm still having a blast."