Photo at the community market taken by Rendell Photography on August 3
Nicholas L. M. Allen
Aug 16, 2023
The 18th year of the Crowsnest Pass Doors Open and Heritage Festival
The Pass was home to the annual Crowsnest Pass Doors Open and Heritage Festival from August 3 to 6.
2023 marked the 18th year of the Crowsnest Pass Doors Open and Heritage Festival, attracting over 9,000 visitors a year over the August Long Weekend according to the event website.
The festival uses the heritage weekend as a celebration of the Crowsnest Pass’ unique history, culture and heritage.
The festival is a project of the Crowsnest Heritage Initiative, a collective of like-minded heritage sites and resources here in the Crowsnest Pass.
Events over the weekend included a free swim at the Crowsnest Pass Pool, presentations from the Crowsnest Conservation Society, hikes and tours with Crowsnest Adventures and Uplift Adventures, escape rooms at the APP Barracks, a pottery sale with the Crowsnest Pass Pottery Club, e-bike tours with Sweet Riders, artist studio tour hosted by the CNP Art Gallery, entertainment around the Pass and more.
According to Brandy Fehr, the community economic development and marketing coordinator for Community Futures, the event was great, but there was a decline in attendance.
“From what we’ve heard around town, a lot of people didn’t want to be on the highways and weren’t aware that the construction was actually over on the Thursday,” said Fehr.
Some of the drummers and dancers for the event were stuck for over two hours on the highway on the Thursday before the festival, explained Fehr.
She added they look forward to next year’s 19th Annual Crowsnest Pass Doors Open and Heritage Festival.