Magnificent River Rats Festival History

The Magnificent River Rats Festival began on a shoestring budget and featured one of Alberta's country music favourites, Danny Hooper, in 1996. Organizers actually passed out a collection plate during the concert. But once the dust settled, the very first Magnificent River Rats festival paid it's bills — and a premier summer event was born. The 1997 installment brought popular country music recording artist Patricia Conroy. In 1998, event organizers brought Alberta's very own Duane Steele in for an energized, foot-stompin' performance.

In 1999, the Magnificent River Rats invited the Juno Award-winning band Prairie Oyster to headline the festival. By this time, the event swelled to about 7,000 attendees. The Magnificent River Rats Festival was on the map as a major summer event.

In 2003, the Magnificent River Rats Festival added a new dimension with a day dedicated to classic rock n' roll, headlined by the legendary Randy Bachman. Other headliners included Michelle Wright and Rick Tippe, and the festival also hosted a rare visit by the RCMP Musical Ride. In 2004, the Magnificent River Rats Festival welcomed Kim Mitchell, Aaron Lines and Gil Grand as headline acts.

While the festival has attracted some of the top acts in Canadian music, it is about more than outdoor concerts. There is an activity for every member of the family. There's a car show and shine, a bevy of cultural events on the Athabasca Riverfront Stage, amazing activites guaranteed to keep the kids occupied for hours, and timeless treasures can be found in the arts and crafts tent.