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Festival season ends on high notes
Check out what’s coming up next on the music scene
As summer may draw to a close and the Midsummer, Kispiox and Edge of the World Festivals fade into the rear view mirror, fair- and festival-lovers throughout the North still have reason to celebrate: there are close to 20 major events to choose from before the slow period between festival and Christmas arrives.
Each event showcases its own element of northern B.C. culture, be that a rich performing arts scene, thriving agriculture traditions, community-pride building exhibitions of local accomplishments, or celebrations of culture, recreation and the environment.
The late summer festival season kicks off with Riverboat Days in Terrace, which includes a parade, fireworks, tournaments, salmon barbecues, concerts, sporting events, duck race, treasure hunt, and cultural events.
And if you didn’t already get the full music festival camp-out experience this summer you can still get it at the Elks/Royal Purple Riverside Music Festival in Terrace, which features country, bluegrass, Celtic and gospel music by the likes of Millburn Mountain Boys, Mark Perry, Doctor Fishy, Grant & Karen Hommy, Sound of the North, High Lonesome, Horizon, Copper Mountain, Celtic Rain, Dizzy Strings, Larry Boudreau, Frank & Friends, and Moonlight & Roses.
You can also camp at the Rosswood Jamboree. Only 42 km north of Terrace, this sweet little festival’s casual homemade flavour recalls the early days of its big sister music festivals such as the Midsummer and the Kispiox. Rock and blues are on the Rosswood musical agenda, including David Essig, Steve Slade, Karin Ljungh, The Blue Boogie Trio, Kat-Sass & The Blowheads.
Other music festivals include the B.C. Rivers Day Music Festival in Fort George Park, Prince George, features singer-songwriter Roy Forbes, bluegrass band the Millburn Mountain Boys and Marcel Gagnon among others.
“ The Rivers Day Music Festival is a free public event that encourages residents and visitors to celebrate the quality of life that our rivers and our fresh water provide to each and every one of us,” says organizer Cheryl Livingstone-Leman. “Its overwhelming success led to its being recognized by the BC Outdoor Recreation Council as the official music festival for the province-wide BC Rivers Day initiative.”
The new kid on the block this year is the First Annual Prince George Folk Festival. Its impressive musical line-up proves that being new to the game doesn’t mean you can’t make a splashy entrance on the festival scene. Rumour has it that this festival is being launched with the help of several talented people who’ve had a hand in some of Canada’s most renowned festivals, including the Winnipeg Folk Festival. In any case, the PGFF’s inaugural year is sure to be memorable, with some of the biggest names in folk: Canadian troubadour legend Bruce Cockburn, hip hop band Sweatshop Union, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Janis Ian, Karla Anderson, Canamerish, Doug Cox & Todd Butler, Ellen McIlwaine, Mamaguroove, The Pucks and many more.
If your idea of a good old-fashioned country fair includes elements like steely-nerved ranch hands and rodeo clowns squaring off with fuming bulls and bucking broncos, loggers’ sports, draft horses, 4-H activities, your best lemon squares and your neighbour’s mammoth rutabaga — all competing for judges’ favour, you won’t need to look far. Fall fairs begin in Tlell on Haida Gwaii on August 1, and continue through Terrace, Smithers, Vanderhoof, and Burns Lake.
Most fall fairs also offer musical entertainment as well. Between all of the fairs listed above you’ll find country & western music (Smithers), bluegrass (Burns Lake), old-time fiddling contests (Terrace) and a broad assortment of local entertainers.
The North’s longest running fall fair, the Prince George Exhibition, is unveiling a new feature in addition to its tried-and-true fair favorites like the sanctioned rodeo, carnival rides, and agriculture exhibits. This year, a teen-oriented Xtreme Zone will feature Survivor, Fear Factor, and extreme sports. Musical line-up runs the gamut, from Jack Connelly, the Timebenders, Atasha Probe, and punk band Gob.
“ For the PGX is it a big leap, as they have not held a concert during the fair for many years,” says P.G. exhibition manager Kelly Morris.
There are also community street fairs, such as the family oriented Summerfest in Prince George, where kids’ activities on George Street include craft tables, face painting, and miniature horse riding, and Vanderhoof’s Festival of the Goose, which celebrates the presence of Canada geese with great food, musical entertainment, and local crafts.
Perhaps you like the idea of being entertained, eating great food, participating in a massive recycling effort, and supporting humanitarian aid projects in developing countries all at once. If so, you won’t want to miss the Mennonite Fall Fair, which features traditional foods such as borscht and farmer sausage-in-a-bun and cream pies, a massive garage sale, sales of used books and clothing, a silent auction, and fairly traded coffee and crafts by Ten Thousand Villages. It’s a great place to stock up on Christmas gifts, while reducing the environmental footprint we leave behind—and helping to create a more compassionate society.
When you’re weary of cotton candy, blazing heat and yet another lemon tart competition, consider stepping into a cool dark theatre for a more intellectual treat. The Udder Festival in Prince Rupert, run by the Harbour Theatre Society, will quench your thirst for provocative drama and comedy with a range of short and one-act plays. And if you’re looking for far-out ideas for your next vacation, you’ll also want to strap in for the visual ride at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. This selection of award-winning documentaries about athletic feats and extreme sports in rugged and exotic locales tours at least four northern towns annually.
©Larissa Ardis
Music events:
Aug. 1 TLELL, QCI Tlell Fall Fair www.qcinfo.com, or info@haidagwaiibc.com (250) 557-4304
July 29-Aug. 6 TERRACE Riverboat Days www.terracetourism.bc.ca (250) 635-2063 Aug. 6-8 TERRACE Riverside Music Festival www.terracetourism.bc.ca, or gorbetco@telus.net(250) 635-9537
Aug. 4-8 PRINCE RUPERT The Udder Festival www.harbourtheatre.bc.ca, or udderfest@harbourtheatre.bc.ca (250) 624-3626
Aug. 11-15 PRINCE GEORGE Prince George Exhibition www.pgx.ca/info@pgx.ca (250) 563-4096
Aug. 13-14 PRINCE GEORGEPrince George Folk Festivalwww.pgfolkfest.com/info@pgfolkfest.com
Aug. 13-15 VANDERHOOF Nechako Valley Exhibition nves@hwy16.com (250) 567-3011
Aug. 21 ROSSWOOD Rosswood Music Jamboree www.homestead.com/rosswoodjams (250) 615-5517
Aug. 21-22 PRINCE GEORGE Summerfest info@downtownpg.com (250) 614-1330
Aug. 25-30 SMITHERS Bulkley Valley Exhibition www.bvfair.ca (250) 847-3816
Sept. 4-5 TERRACE Skeena Valley Fall Fair(250) 635-2665
Sept. 10-12BURNS LAKEFall Fair & Blue Grass Festival bldcoc@telus.net (250) 699-8697
Sept. 24-26 VANDERHOOF Third Annual Festival of the Goose s.reinke@vanderhoofchamber.com (250) 567-2124
Sept. 25 PRINCE GEORGE Mennonite Fall Fair www.mcc.org/bc/festivals/ or reliefsale@mccbc.com 1-888-622-6337
Sept. 26 PRINCE GEORGE B.C. Rivers Day Music Festival www.riversdaymusic.org, or twiga@direct.ca
Sept. 28, 29 QUEEN CHARLOTTE CITY Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/tour/canada/locations/bc.htm (250) 559-8384
Oct. 2 TERRACE Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour jim_baker@banffcentre.ca (250) 638-8724
Oct. 3 SMITHERS Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/tour/canada/locations/bc.htm (250) 847-1910
Dec. 11 PRINCE GEORGE Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour jim_baker@banffcentre.ca (250) 962-2923
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