Westman Dreams for Kids recently announced that the Children’s Country Fair will return in 2022. This year's event will take place at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Sunday, June 5 from 10am to 4pm. Royal LePage returns as the presenting sponsor. Children’s Country Fair is a free event for families in Westman featuring a variety of activities and entertainment for everyone of all ages. Activities in the past have included bouncy castles, live entertainment, face painting, petting zoo, and and lots of educational attractions. This year's event will also serve as the official grand opening of the Westman Dreams for Kids Accessibility Park. Additional details to follow on their Facebook page.

After having to shut down our 2020 production of "Be More Chill" just over a month before showtime and then going for 2-years without singing, dancing, and playing together...we are all ready for "somewhere that's green". While New York City celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's, "Little Shop of Horrors" with the sold-out Off-Broadway revival, Crocus Plains Secondary School celebrates a little closer to home. This cult classic brings a loveable and eclectic cast to life with outstanding puppetry, eye-catching set design, and musical acts that will make you want to stand up and dance. The story starts at Mushnik’s Flower Shop, deep in the heart of Skid Row. Meek flower shop assistant Seymour is in love with co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously struggling store. After an unfortunate accident, Seymour finds himself feeding Audrey's boyfriend, Orin, to the plant, and he must continue to find more bodies to sustain the increasingly bloodthirsty plant. This talented cast of students, grades nine through twelve, performing roles of both the human and alien plant variety, features newcomers Diego Garcia-Solis (Thursday/Saturday Evening) and Edwin Cerquera Malaver (Friday/Saturday Matinee) as Seymour and Ava Thexton (Thursday/Saturday Evening) and Emma- Marie Wiebe (Friday/Saturday Matinee) as Audrey. Little Shop of Horrors reminds us of the importance of community, that greed is poison and that any one of us, willing to act out of selflessness, could change the world. This outstanding cast and crew of both students and staff are thrilled to be presenting this fantastic show at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (WMCA). Reigniting the Crocus Plains Major Production has been a team effort, with the collaboration and support of multiple staff and students, including the entire ACE Creative Promotions class acting as an advertising agency, choreography by Monique Roy- Keller (Steppin' Time Dance Studio) and the realistic plants built by Brandonite Marilyn Hardy. The cast, crew, volunteers, and Crocus Plains community are all very excited to get back to doing what they love! Tickets are on sale now at http://www.wmca.ca/lsoh.html

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top made an appearance in Brandon earlier tonight playing a concert inside the Keystone Centre. The classic rock band has fifteen studio albums and over 30 million record sales to their credit. The ‘Celebration with ZZ Top’ Canadian tour kicked off April 22 in Victoria, BC. Scramble Studio was on-hand to capture the following photos for bdnmb.ca.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, the Rotary Westman Wine Festival presented by Manitoba Liquor Marts is back! The two-day festival features distinct experiences, a Gala Dinner and a Public Wine Tasting, all in support of a worthy cause. Since 2003, the Festival has raised more than $200,000 for the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre and local Rotary Projects. The Gala Dinner takes place on Thursday May 5th and features a five course, chef inspired, gourmet meal which has been carefully paired with ten different wines. It features local ingredients prepared by local talent (Chef Brett Rystephanuk at the Victoria Inn) and is a momentous event to get back to socializing with friends or colleagues. Tickets are still available for $130/person by calling Tracy Baker at 204-724- 6576. The Public Wine Tasting takes place on Friday May 6th at the Imperial Ballroom at the Victoria Inn. This year's event will have more than 75 different wines to sample. Each station typically has four different wines to try and interaction with the representatives is encouraged. They will be happy to provide the tasting profile, history and even the price so you can find your favourite at your local Manitoba Liquor Mart Public tasting tickets are still available at any of the Brandon Manitoba Liquor Marts locations for $39.95 tax included.

Canadian singer, songwriter, actor and author Jann Arden is scheduled to perform in concert at Brandon's WMCA on Monday, July 4 at 7:30pm. Arden released her 15th studio album, Descendant, co-produced with Bob Rock and Russell Broom, in January of 2022. In total she has released 15 albums with 19 top ten singles. Arden has won 8 Juno's including solo artist of the year in 1994 and Female Artist of the Year in 1995 and 2001. She has also found employment as an actress, starring in Jann, a comedy television series based on a "fictionalized version" of her own life. For additional information, or to purchase tickets, click here.