This weekend belongs to words. Words threw back and forth by federal candidates. Words shared softly and carefully, or loud and careless across social media. Words committed to paper, written down to be savored in good time.

Here are five directions to head for arts and culture in and around Edmonton this weekend. It’s Five Finger Friday!

Index: The Leader

LitFest

Edmonton’s Non-Fiction Festival brings the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. With a little elaboration to keep things interesting, I’d imagine.

Check the LitFest website for the full schedule, including appearances by Wab Kinew and Jon Ronson (whom I’ve heard interviewed twice in podcast-land this year), author of ‘So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed’.

Creative Non-Fiction takes over Edmonton from October 15 to October 25. Get details at litfestalberta.com

Middle: The Attitude

Ballots, Beers and a Bunch of Writers

Celebrate or mourn as the election results roll in on Metro Cinema’s big screen at the Garneau Theatre Monday night.

This event is hosted by Dave Cournoyer and features a panel including Drew Hayden Taylor, Mike Hudema, Wab Kinew and Samantha Power.

As the Facebook event says, "By the end, you could be toasting the country’s new leader or crying into your pint. Either way, we’ll be there right along with you watching the results on the big screen."

Tickets are just $10 at TIX on the Square. Get details on Facebook here.

Ring: The Faithful

St. Andrews United Quilt Sale

Check out the Quilt Show and Sale and get ready for the winter chill. A good, handmade quilt is a beatiful keepsake or gift, and this is a time and place where you’ll find many under one roof. They are also beautiful to look at, and the money goes to a good place.

The Show & Sale is Saturday, October 17, from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Get details on the St. Andrews Website.

Pinky: The Outlier

Amplify Youth Arts Festival in St.Albert

This event is new to me, but looks pretty amazing. It starts out with a visit to The Enjoy Centre, a horticultural wonderland. Once inside, there are performances and workshops galore. Halloween gore F/X makeup, hip hop dance, improv, henna body art, creative non-fiction and more can be learned. There is an ‘instrument petting zoo’, a dough-stretching tutorial from Famoso, origami, slam poetry and tons more.

From the festival website;

"This fall discover limitless passion, infinite ideas and a jungle of creative expression, visual art, dance, music, media arts and poetry all composed, created and curated by young artists. A fresh take on an arts and cultural festival, the St. Albert Amplify Festival is designed specifically for students grade seven to age 21. Combining workshops, concerts, projects and performances to craft an artistic adventure like no other, you’re invited to explore the untamed reaches of your imagination at Amplify 2015."

See more online at amplifyfestival.ca

Thumb: The Unsung Hero

Canada Council Funding event

All of this great art needs to be funded, am I right?

The Canada Council for the Arts has launched a New Funding Model, and they’re hosting an information session here in Edmonton TONIGHT.

Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts, presents the new funding model, its vision and its intentions.

I had a difficult time finding more details than that, but ...

"To attend the information session please contact Ellen Kartz (ellen.kartz@writersguild.ab.ca / 780-422-8216), with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, to reserve your seat and get more information.” (from the EAC Weekly)

Five Finger Friday Has Some Words