Each summer, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the iconic landscapes and rich history of Drumheller. The colder months, by contrast, bring a noticeable quiet to the valley. The town that bustles with dinosaur-hunters in July becomes more peaceful in February.
But a growing group of locals are working to change that—one music festival at a time.
Cold Bones Fest is what happens when a few community-minded folks decide that Drumheller deserves a music festival—even in the dead of winter. With a DIY spirit and a lot of heart, Cold Bones has quickly evolved into a three-day, multi-genre, multi-venue celebration of music, local business, and community spirit. It's loud, it's lively, it's inclusive, and it brings visitors to town when they’re needed most.
Cold Bones Fest isn’t just a party; it’s a smart tourism strategy. By creating a new reason to visit in February, the festival is helping to diversify Drumheller’s visitor economy and support businesses year-round.
Cold Bones was founded by Christopher and Candace Lorenz, a pair of Calgary transplants who now proudly call Drumheller home. After careers in design and culinary arts took a detour during the pandemic, they relocated to the valley in search of community, space, and opportunity. That journey led to the launch of their popular eatery Heller Good Sandwiches, and eventually to Cold Bones Fest.
Tourism is one of the most promising and dynamic sectors in Drumheller’s economy. Over the next ten years, visitor spend in the area could grow from $273M in 2025 to $412M by 2035.
With world-class natural wonders, rich paleontological heritage, and vibrant local culture, the region has long been a magnet for summer travellers. But by growing shoulder-season and winter visitation, Drumheller has a significant opportunity to generate more stable, year-round revenue for small businesses, enhance local employment, and reduce the seasonal boom-bust cycle that affects so many rural destinations.
Cold Bones Festival is an excellent example of how innovative, community-driven events can help unlock that potential.
The first pilot of Cold Bones took place in February 2023. Encouraged by the response, the team expanded the festival, partnering with local businesses and venues including The Legion, Drum Distilling, Heller Good Sandwiches, Badlands Photography, and the Napier Theatre. Over just one weekend, the festival drove over $100,000 in economic impact, nearly 150 room nights, and supported 60 jobs in the area—a powerful boost for the local economy during the off-season.
With support from our Events and Festivals investment program, and additional funding through Travel Drumheller’s Badlands Live initiative, the festival reached new audiences across the province. Coaching from our destination development team also helped shape a long-term vision for Cold Bones, positioning it as a tool for seasonal dispersion and fostering year-round tourism sustainability.
Plans for Cold Bones Fest 2026 and beyond are already in motion, with plans to expand the number of partner venues, collaborate with the Town of Drumheller, Travel Drumheller, and other stakeholders to align to the broader community calendar of events, and encourage more travellers from Calgary and beyond to stay for the weekend, supporting local hotels during a season that needs it the most.
This is more than a music festival, it’s a blueprint for how Alberta communities can come together, get creative, and build thriving tourism economies beyond the high season.
To learn more about Cold Bones Fest or explore partnership opportunities, reach out to Chris and Candace at hello@coldbonesfest.com.
