CORRECTION: In this week's edition of the Moose Jaw Express, it was incorrectly stated that ParkArt '25 is free to attend for guests of all ages. After confirming, an admission fee of $5 is charged per person to help raise funds for the MJMAG, where free entry is exclusively granted to children aged 12 and under.
MOOSE JAW — Crescent Park will come alive with colour, creativity and community spirit on Canada Day as the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG) hosts its annual ParkArt fundraiser on July 1.
ParkArt ’25 will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Crescent Park just outside the Moose Jaw Public Library and MJMAG. Admission is $5 per guest and children aged 12 and under can attend for free.
“ParkArt is our annual fundraiser for Canada Day … and it’s going to feature close to 80 different vendors with booths for artists, artisans, and different creatives selling handmade items,” said Jennifer McRorie, director and curator at the MJMAG. “There will be a real variety of options … and there’ll be something for everyone there.”
Curious guests can expect to find everything from pottery, paintings, and woodworking to handmade jewelry, soaps, textiles, baked goods and more. This year’s lineup includes returning favourites such as Burn.Be Candles, Against the Grain Studio, artisaNGrounds, Beth Crabb, Patti Lewis, and The Cookie Lady — a popular staple known for her homemade treats.
“We encourage people to come down and check out the work by local, provincial, and even a few out-of-province exhibitors …,” McRorie added.
This year’s show marks a return to pre-pandemic scale, with more booths and increased foot traffic expected.
“(ParkArt) is even bigger this year,” McRorie said. “I think we had about 76 booths last year, and … we’re at 80 right now. So yeah, we’re back to the numbers that we saw pre-pandemic, which is really exciting.”
In addition to vendor booths, families can take part in hands-on art activities in the Kinsmen Learning Centre inside the MJMAG from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The free drop-in sessions include face painting and “Canada Day crafting” designed for children and youth.
Food vendors will also be on-site throughout the afternoon, including the Moose Jaw Elks serving hamburgers and hot dogs and Hourglass Coffee. All items sold are handmade or locally produced, keeping in line with the event’s grassroots, artisanal focus.
The MJMAG will remain open to the public during ParkArt, with visitors encouraged to stop in and explore current exhibitions, including the True North and PRIDE displays.
“Please come out and support our biggest annual fundraiser, and help celebrate the Canada Day festivities,” McRorie said.
ParkArt 2025 is organized by the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, located at 461 Langdon Crescent. For more information, visit MJMAG.ca/ParkArt or call 306-692-4471.
