Blab Music
Columbia Basin Trust Awards $15,000 to Trails Music in the Park as Part of $234,000 Grant Package
When the Columbia Basin Trust announced a $15,000 grant to Trail’s Music in the Park, the city’s summer soundtrack received a fresh financial boost.
The award is one slice of a $234,000 package the Trust is distributing this festival season to 20 community‑based groups across the Columbia Basin. The money will help keep the weekly summer concert series—now a staple of Gyro Park on the Columbia River—running each Thursday night.
Music in the Park began as a handful of outdoor gigs and has grown into a year‑long tradition that includes Thursday‑night concerts, monthly night markets, a Music in the Dark program for younger listeners, and a RemarkABILITY Fest that welcomes people of all abilities. The Trail and District Arts Council (TDAC) hosts the series, and its executive director, Amelia Ewart, said the event “has become one of Trail’s and the surrounding communities’ most beloved summer traditions.”
The Trust’s contribution comes through its Basin Festivals Grants program and will be administered by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council. According to the Trust, the funds will cover production costs, equipment rentals, and other operational expenses that keep the concerts running each week.
In addition to Music in the Park, the Trust awarded grants to several West Kootenay organizations, including festivals in Ymir, Crawford Bay, Balfour, Nakusp, Silverton, and five groups in Nelson. “Each year, our communities are shaped and invigorated by these seasonal gatherings,” said Justine Cohen, the Trust’s senior manager. “Whether it’s a local outdoor concert series or a regional arts festival, these events contribute to the vibrancy of our communities by bringing people together, celebrating local creativity and showcasing what makes the Basin a welcoming place to live and visit.”
The next Music in the Park concert is scheduled for Thursday, July 9. The lineup will feature the Mbira Renaissance Band, known for fusing Zimbabwean mbira music with contemporary rhythms, followed by El Balcón, a group that blends Mexican and Middle Eastern musical traditions. Performances will run from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gyro Park.
Trail is a city in the western Kootenays of British Columbia’s Interior. Its position on the Columbia River and near the U.S. border makes it a natural hub for cultural events that draw residents and visitors from both sides of the border.
The Columbia Basin Trust was created under the Columbia Basin Trust Act of 1995 to provide financial support to communities adversely affected by the Columbia River Treaty. Its endowment and ongoing revenue streams allow it to fund a range of community projects—including arts and cultural festivals—that promote economic development and social cohesion.
More information about the Trust’s grant programs and application process is available on its website, thetrust.org. The organization can also be reached by phone at 1‑800‑505‑8998 for inquiries about current funding opportunities.
With the $15,000 grant, Music in the Park will continue offering free, accessible concerts that showcase local talent and foster community engagement. The Trust’s broader investment in 20 groups across the basin underscores its commitment to supporting cultural initiatives that strengthen regional identity and economic vitality.
The award is one slice of a $234,000 package the Trust is distributing this festival season to 20 community‑based groups across the Columbia Basin. The money will help keep the weekly summer concert series—now a staple of Gyro Park on the Columbia River—running each Thursday night.
Music in the Park began as a handful of outdoor gigs and has grown into a year‑long tradition that includes Thursday‑night concerts, monthly night markets, a Music in the Dark program for younger listeners, and a RemarkABILITY Fest that welcomes people of all abilities. The Trail and District Arts Council (TDAC) hosts the series, and its executive director, Amelia Ewart, said the event “has become one of Trail’s and the surrounding communities’ most beloved summer traditions.”
The Trust’s contribution comes through its Basin Festivals Grants program and will be administered by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council. According to the Trust, the funds will cover production costs, equipment rentals, and other operational expenses that keep the concerts running each week.
In addition to Music in the Park, the Trust awarded grants to several West Kootenay organizations, including festivals in Ymir, Crawford Bay, Balfour, Nakusp, Silverton, and five groups in Nelson. “Each year, our communities are shaped and invigorated by these seasonal gatherings,” said Justine Cohen, the Trust’s senior manager. “Whether it’s a local outdoor concert series or a regional arts festival, these events contribute to the vibrancy of our communities by bringing people together, celebrating local creativity and showcasing what makes the Basin a welcoming place to live and visit.”
The next Music in the Park concert is scheduled for Thursday, July 9. The lineup will feature the Mbira Renaissance Band, known for fusing Zimbabwean mbira music with contemporary rhythms, followed by El Balcón, a group that blends Mexican and Middle Eastern musical traditions. Performances will run from 6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gyro Park.
Trail is a city in the western Kootenays of British Columbia’s Interior. Its position on the Columbia River and near the U.S. border makes it a natural hub for cultural events that draw residents and visitors from both sides of the border.
The Columbia Basin Trust was created under the Columbia Basin Trust Act of 1995 to provide financial support to communities adversely affected by the Columbia River Treaty. Its endowment and ongoing revenue streams allow it to fund a range of community projects—including arts and cultural festivals—that promote economic development and social cohesion.
More information about the Trust’s grant programs and application process is available on its website, thetrust.org. The organization can also be reached by phone at 1‑800‑505‑8998 for inquiries about current funding opportunities.
With the $15,000 grant, Music in the Park will continue offering free, accessible concerts that showcase local talent and foster community engagement. The Trust’s broader investment in 20 groups across the basin underscores its commitment to supporting cultural initiatives that strengthen regional identity and economic vitality.
