Country Thunder’s Craven site cleaner than usual, volunteers say

Volunteers were hard at work under the sun on Monday, picking up after Sunday’s wrap-up of the Country Thunder Music Festival in Craven.

Organizers estimate the annual festival saw about 25,000 people through its gates in 2024.

Krystal Switch with the Walter Hofer cleanup crew from Alberta was one of those volunteers.

“We’ve taken on a lot this year but it’s going a lot better than it was last year,” Switch said.

Switch said the grounds were cleaner than they were last year, saying people were likely more aware of the rules surrounding trash cleanup rules.

Occupiers of trash-filled sites can be subject to a minimum fine of $300 and may have their renewal rights suspended.

“People have just been bagging it up so it’s definitely easier because we’ve told them last year that we’re going to be here again,” said second-year volunteer Neveah Vance.

Vance said cleanup was going well and so did first-year volunteer Aolani Dookhoo, who is also from Alberta.

“I’ve done other festivals but Craven is my first year,” she said.

“So far, it’s going pretty well. It’s just messy but that’s to be expected.”

Dookhoo said it was easier to clean at Craven than bigger sites like Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose.

Dookhoo said volunteers work the first three days of the concert for about four hours per day and the final day is a much larger cleanup that takes between nine and 11 hours.

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Jeff Barker is the scout leader with the 6th Camrose Traditional Scouts. The troop received a charitable donation from Hofer’s for helping with the cleanup.

Barker said it was the organization’s first time at Craven, although they had experience working at Big Valley.

“There’s been great people out here, it’s been a really good atmosphere,” Barker said.

“Awesome facilities, I love this little spot that we’re in. We were kind of blown away at how beautiful it was. We all had a long drive here, and some of Saskatchewan is a little on the flat side, and you get here and … this valley is just gorgeous. They’ve got a little paradise here.”

Barker said there had been some challenges and long days, but everyone worked together and were kept on track by solid direction.

Barker said 6th Camrose had brought 12 people to the festival, with 35-40 from Hofer.

“It’s been a lot of work, a lot of footsteps – we all need new shoes,” said Beckie Anderson-Friesen, also from 6th Camrose.

Anderson-Friesen said the experience gave her quite a bit of perspective.

“It’s a great opportunity that we’ve had, it’s a great thing for our group, but I think I’ll go home and complain about my job a little less,” Anderson-Friesen said.

“We take a lot for granted and this has been a bit of an eye-opener.”

Anderson-Friesen said she didn’t realize the scope of what went into all the behind-the-scenes work for festivals like Country Thunder.

“There are people that do this kind of work every day for not a lot of money just to survive, and I’m a little more grateful to what I’m going home to,” she said.

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