At last year’s Communithon event, the Weyburn & District United Way introduced a new event, called the Concert Jam. This year, the United Way wants the community of Weyburn to save the date for this year’s Concert Jam, taking place Saturday, August 25 at the Cugnet Centre.

“Last year, we introduced it during Communithon itself,” explained Communithon Chair and President of the Weyburn and District United Way Sabrina Kraft. “We had some great feedback about the Concert Jam, but we wanted to do it better and do more with it.”

“So this year, we’re going to hold it as a separate event, at a separate date,” Kraft said. “So this year it’s going to act as the kick-off for Communithon season.”

Anybody can raise money for Communithon at any time of the year, but this kick-off will hopefully get some local businesses to start thinking about the huge fundraising event, which distributes proceeds among its numerous member agencies.

“During the months of September and October, we really encourage people to look at fundraising, look at volunteering, look at helping out,” she said.

“It’s a family-friendly event,” said Kraft, noting that there will also be a licensed area. “Everybody and anybody are welcome to the event. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

She added that the entertainment booking process is well underway.

“We’re looking at bringing about seven bands to the Cugnet Centre,” noted Kraft. “Just like last year’s concert jam, each band gets about an hour on the stage and we’re just going to have toe-tapping fun throughout the day.”

A few of the bands are confirmed and some are still being kept under wraps until they are confirmed.

“We’re very excited to have Rugged Little Thing come back,” she said. “They were one of our performers last year. That’s a beautiful duet.”

She said also Men Without Shame and Rock Candy are confirmed as well.

“I’m working on bringing on Little Miss Higgins,” added Kraft. “Already with the line-up we have secured, I know it’s going to be a great day of entertainment for everybody.”

The event is an alternative to the kick-off event that has been holding the space for the past few years.

“We really appreciate the City for hosting that Duck Derby for the past four years, but we have to respect what they’re seeing with the levels of the river and if they say the ducks won’t move then the ducks are not going to move,” she said.

Communithon this year is set for just one full day, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, October 19 at the Cugnet Centre.

Check out Discover Weyburn's photo gallery of last year's inaugural Concert Jam.