You might be used to seeing New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Russell behind a microphone at COVID-19 news conferences, but this past Saturday she switched hats and changed venues, performing a full concert of original songs at KIRA Amphitheatre in St. Andrews with her musical group, the Jenn Russell Big Band. 

The Jenn Russell Big Band concert was a fundraiser for the United Way and also the headlining event at the first ever Saint Andrews Appreciation Day, a holiday created to mark how far Saint Andrews and all of New Brunswick have come from the start of the pandemic over a year and a half ago to entering the Green Level of Recovery earlier this month.  

The Jenn Russell Big Band show was part of a full day of townwide festivities, including community awards for outstanding members of the town who stepped up to the plate during the time of COVID-19 and a fireworks display to end the night.

Saint Andrews Appreciation Day also happened to fall on the weekend where New Brunswick hit an important milestone of having 75% of the eligible population fully vaccinated. 

Indulge Food and Wine Festival returns to Saint Andrews from October 13th to 17th. and demand is so high that the festival's website crashed when tickets went on sale this past Sunday. 

Part of the reason for the high demand is due to the festival returning to its regular form this year after having a scaled-back version of Indulge in 2020 due to COVID-19. Festival goers can expect an Indulge that truly lives up to its name this year.

Tickets to Friday night's Taste of Saint Andrews sold out almost immediately but the 4-day festival has many other events with openings. And if you need an excuse to indulge, keep in mind that the festival benefits the local food bank.