Grab your lederhosen and get ready to raise a stein - Fort Macleod’s most festive fundraiser returns on Saturday, October 18! This Oktoberfest bash is brought to you by a powerhouse partnership between the Fort Macleod Public Library and the Empress Theatre — one incredible team, two amazing causes, and a whole lot of fun! Expect a night packed with: .Delicious Dinner .Live Entertainment .Games & Shenanigans .Silent Auction .Live Auction .Drinks Galore .And a whole lot of FUN! BUY TICKETS

PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Madison Violet is a Canadian Juno-nominated female musical duo, consisting of Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Madison Violet. A rare and impressive feat that they are both proud of and grateful for. The pair, who both have roots in rural Cape Breton, came together musically in the late 1990s. Influenced by their maritime heritage, Brenley and Lisa began creating music together that had roots firmly planted in their past, but with contemporary and modern elements generously overlaid. Categorizing Madison Violet’s music is an impossible task, in that one can hear elements of folk, singer-songwriter, pop, indie, bluegrass, and country flawlessly interwoven throughout. BUY TICKETS

The long running and celebrated McDade Family Christmas show is finally coming to the Empress Theatre. Alberta’s first family of Celtic music invite you to join them in celebration. Bringing you a Celtic Christmas, The McDades offer you and yours their heartfelt comfort and joy of the season. The McDade Family’s rich blend of soaring vocal harmonies, acoustic instrumentation and energetic fiddle tunes will leave you with the feeling that Christmas is here. Spend an evening enjoying a holiday tradition while listening to seasonal classics as well as some rare gems. Join us for great music and good cheer! . BUY TICKETS

PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Women-led Flamenco Mediterranean Fusion. Tamar Ilana & Ventanas is a 6-piece global music and flamenco band based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2011 by "powerhouse vocalist" (Downbeat Magazine) and Jewish-Indigenous artist Tamar Ilana, they've received 4 CFMA nominations, and toured across Canada, the US, Colombia, Portugal, Ireland and Spain. They released their 4th album, AZADI, in 2024: original compositions that reflect on life’s freedoms with strong influences from their unique combination of cultural and musical backgrounds including Flamenco, Sephardic, Balkan, Greek, Turkish, Jazz, Pop, Classical and Mediterranean folk. BUY TICKETS

PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Lennie Gallant is an acclaimed East Coast songwriter with sixteen albums of original material to his name and a long list of awards recognizing his work. His iconic song Peter’s Dream was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and his songwriting has reached audiences around the world—quite literally. One of his albums even accompanied astronauts aboard the International Space Station, orbiting Earth 248 times. Over the years, he has shared the stage with symphony orchestras and performed alongside numerous well-known artists, including the late Jimmy Buffett. BUY TICKETS

Valdy, is a Canadian folk and country music legend who has toured for forty-six years. HIs solo career began in the early 1970s. He is most known for "Rock and Roll Song", his first mainstream single but Valdy has a treasure trove of songs and stories. He is the winner of two JUNO awards including Folksinger of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year. His fourteen albums, including four which are certified gold, have achieved sales of nearly half a million copies. BUY TICKETS

PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - Eighteen years ago a number of Ian Tyson's one time sidemen, collaborators and musical admirers came together under the banner of The Gift - Words and Music of Ian Tyson. The Gift rolls through 50 years of Tyson's catalogue, finding room for songs going back to the days of Ian and Sylvia and The Great Speckled Bird, through Ian's honky-tonk years, while making room for a large slice of the cowboy culture music that is heard on albums from Old Corrals and Sagebrush, Cowboyography, 18 Inches of Rain, I Outgrew The Saddle and Songs From The Gravel Road. BUY TICKETS

Called one of Canada’s Top 5 Female Jazz Singers and Top 35 under 35 Jazz Artists by CBC Radio 2, Lica’s deep passion for the music of classic American vocalists like Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Betty Hutton led her to pursue a degree in Jazz Voice Performance at the University of Toronto. Barbra has received accolades for a unique stage approach that stresses subtlty, grace and storytelling, captivating audiences with her genuine warmth and confidence.

(18+ Only) A fictitious male stripper troupe (played by some of Canada’s best improv comedians) perform sexylarious comedy. Semi undressed and completely unscripted, they take off their shirts and take on your suggestions to create a whole new genre of comedy. They try to be sexy… it just comes out funny. They sing, they “dance”, and they are ready to make you laugh. A SHOW FOR ALL GENDERS… (Adults Only) WARNING! No extreme nudity, just extreme hilarity.

Since emigrating to Canada in 2002, Chris Ronald has been recognized as a highly skilled singer, storyteller and musician.  His fusion of folk, roots, and Americana music are steeped in his British background and poetic lyrics. One of these early works caught the attention of The Georgia Straight who praised Ronald’s songwriting and “beautifully clear tenor voice” and wondered “where his obvious talent has been hiding for so long.”  His sophomore album Timeline catapulted Ronald to a new level in his career with, among other accolades, a nomination for “Songwriter of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Ronald was then signed to esteemed Canadian folk label Borealis Records to release Fragments followed by Light & Dark. Both albums achieved top 10 on the The Folk Chart. BUY TICKETS

PART OF THE 2025-26 CENTRE STAGE SERIES - For nearly two decades, Delhi 2 Dublin has been at the forefront of South Asian fusion music, pioneering a global bass sound they call “Subcontinental Pop”—a high-energy blend of Bhangra, electronic, hip-hop, reggae, and Celtic influences that defies genre and unites dance floors worldwide. As they approach their monumental 20th anniversary in 2026, the band is re-energized, re-inspired, and ready to launch a bold new chapter, creating fresh music for the first time in six years. Founding members Sanjay Seran and Ravi Binning continue to lead the charge, pushing Delhi 2 Dublin’s sound and vision to new heights. BUY TICKETS

A salute to one Canada's most celebrated songwriters - Troubadour "The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot" with Duane Steele and a killer band, brings the timeless music and story of Gordon Lightfoot to life on our stage with amazing songs, multi-media images, and wonderful stories about Gordon's life and career. We guarantee you’ll leave the theatre humming Sundown, Carefree Highway, If You Could Read My Mind and a ton of other great Lightfoot hits. Amazing harmonies, rich storytelling, and a night that feels like coming home.  BUY TICKETS

Back by popular demand, Ikons: the Kiss Experience will rock Fort Macleod’s Empress Theatre once again. This authentic concert experience is guaranteed to satisfy even the most diehard Kiss fans. Beginning in the 1970s, with chart-toppers including “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and “Beth”, Kiss is known for its members’ face paint and stage outfits and its pyrotechnics. Come experience the Starchild, the Demon, the Spaceman, and the Catman. You just might think it’s the real deal once you see Ikons’ authentic looks, moves and music. BUY TICKETS

Step into a time machine and relive the magic of the swinging 60's with Calgary's premier Beatles tribute band!  All You Need Is Love - A Tribute to The Fab Four offers an authentic homage to the greatest band of all time. They captivate audiences with the remarkable musical energy and the infectious wit and humor that cemented The Beatles as legendary icons. The performance begins in 1964 and continues until 1969. It will captivate you with the band's hit songs and the lively banter among the members and with the audience, which made their shows so delightful to watch. BUY TICKETS