Big Valley Jamboree will continue

The Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alta., will go ahead next year, organizers announced in Edmonton Thursday night, ending weeks of speculation about whether the annual country music festival would continue after tragedy struck this year's event.

On Aug. 1, Donna Moore, 35, from Lloydminster, Alta., was killed when a speaker toppled over in a fierce windstorm that ripped through the festival site and destroyed the mainstage.

The decision to continue with the festival was announced prior to a makeup concert at Edmonton's Rexall Place Thursday night.

"I think it was the voice of the fans who phoned us and offered us their support to definitely bring Big Valley back," said festival producer Larry Werner, from Panhandle Productions. "So we're doing it for the fans and we're doing it to bring some closure to what happened."

After Moore was killed on Aug. 1, organizers cancelled the last day of the festival, which was headlined by Tim McGraw.

McGraw returned to Edmonton last night to perform for people who had tickets for the last day of the festival. It also raised $10,000 for a trust fund that was set to help support Moore's two children.

Kevin Costner and Doc Walker have already been confirmed to appear at the 2010 Big Valley Jamboree.