Southeast Saskatchewan is a treasure trove of good food, drink and entertainment in its own right. The folks with Savour the Southeast intend to put that on display for as many people as possible to enjoy, with the event to be hosted at Affinity Place on Saturday, May 14.
“Basically, it’s a showcase of microbreweries, micro-distilleries, a collection of food, from all across our province,” said Josh Leblanc. “At the same time, there’s going to be some Saskatchewan talent being showcased that night.”
Savour the Southeast will be a new event to Estevan, with a collection of wineries, breweries and distilleries offering their products for sampling. Alongside the fare will be a number of small and large restaurants from the Estevan area and beyond, which include independent businesses to larger franchises.
Leblanc, a co-ordinator with the committee bringing the event to Estevan, said Savour the Southeast will be in the same vein as festivals such as the Beer Bacon Bands events in Regina and Saskatoon.
“We thought it would be cool to have something like that locally, and I knew how good those shows were, since the proceeds would always go back to charity,” said Leblanc. “I thought it would be a good fundraiser and something different and new to bring to the community.”
Proceeds from Savour the Southeast will go towards the Saskatchewan 2016 Summer Games. Leblanc noted that he hopes the event will be, at the very least, something popular enough that it can take place every couple of years.
“We’re trying to target the idea that there are some gems on the Prairies. Smaller names and bigger names will both be there. There’s a huge mixture of different things that will be coming to this show,” said Leblanc.
Guests will have the opportunity to pick a favourite among the many purveyors of food and drink at the event, with a booth set up where they can vote on a top vendor.
Leblanc said another motivating factor in bringing such an event to Estevan was the growth in popularity of the small distillery and microbrewery in Saskatchewan.
“There was a hipster association with that, at one point, but now it’s somewhat mainstream. Craft brew is starting to be big in Estevan, with what the Ice Factory and Tap House are doing with rotating taps and growler refills,” said Leblanc. “For small breweries to be able to come showcase themselves down here and for people to be able to purchase that beer within town, it’s kind of a neat situation. It was part of the reason why we decided to have the event down here.”
The sampling of food and drinks will start at 7 p.m. and will go until 11 p.m., along with musical entertainment in the background. Then, from 11 p.m. onward, the entertainment truly begins in the cabaret, featuring a smattering of southeast talent, with performances running until 2 a.m.
Musical acts to perform at Savour the Southeast include bands such as Moose Jaw’s Nickeltree, Prince Albert’s All Mighty Voice, and Regina singer Alex Runions.
“We tried to go for a mixture of everything. That night you’ll see everything onstage, from rock, to alternative, to indie, to folk to country. It’s going to be a good night,” said Leblanc.
Leblanc advised anyone interested to purchase a ticket as soon as possible, since they are selling quickly. The list of vendors and performers is still growing, so anyone interested is advised to check in for regular updates at savoursoutheast.com.
