Cochrane’s Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre is slated to host the One Rock music festival, a Christian celebration that organizers expect to bring about 5,000 people to town.
Scheduled to run from July 26-28, the festival is relocating from it’s old home in Rockyford, where it’s run for the past three years, in search of a home that’s a little closer to the beaten trail.
“The thought was that the more urban location will help One Rock grow,” said Fr. Pierre Ducharme of the Cochrane retreat. “The hope is that the event will stay here, year after year.”
In the years prior, the event has really limited itself to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, but with the larger and less-rural location, the plan has extended to include a total of six dioceses from Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
The proximity to Calgary will allow people easier access to the three-day celebration, said One Rock volunteer and organizer, Anne Curran.
Traditionally, the festival attracts about 1,400 people.
“It’s like a spiritual battery charger, you could say,” said Curran.
She said festivalgoers can expect a whole bevy of activities: a students vs. priests soccer game, lectures and speakers, drum circles and an appearance of a number of the Calgary Food Trucks, for example.
And of course, Christian rock music. Curran said the committee is looking at musician Matt Maher as a headliner, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
“We feel that the young people today are being pursued relentlessly, in many directions, and a lot of times away from the church,” said Curran. “With One Rock, we’re trying to bring them back.”
This year, the event will be run in conjunction with World Youth Day, which is organized by the Catholic Church and held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013. Additionally, the festival will celebrate the centennials of the Calgary Diocese and Archdiocese of Edmonton. Six bishops are slated to attend.
Don’t feel you need to be Catholic to attend the event; it’s open to everyone, from any denomination.
The festival is primarily funded by sponsors and private donors, said Curran, although the organizers touched on the idea of additional funding during a presentation at a town council meeting on Feb. 11. Mayor Truper McBride recommended the group apply for grants.
Early bird tickets (before June 30) for the event are already on sale, at $10 for a single day, or $25 for the entire weekend. After that, prices increase to $15 per day, or $35 for the weekend. Family rates are also available.
For additional information on One Rock, or to purchase tickets, visit onerock.ca.
