Crawford Bay – Starbelly Jam Music Festival
June 08, 2009Held in Crawford Bay on the third weekend of every July, the Starbelly Jam music festival features an eclectic mix of music and entertainment from all over the world. Previous years have showcased blues, hip hop, reggae, bluegrass, flamenco, and even acts which are more avante garde. This year, the lineup includes Karsh Kale with Timeline, Harry Manx, Ndidi Onukwulu, Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa, Mighty Squirrel, Hey Ocean, and Howlin’ Dan & The Riondelics. There will also be on-site food, a craft faire, roaming jugglers and clowns, and a puppet show.
Families are encouraged to bring their children! There is a covered craft free-for all zone fully stocked with items for children to play with. The Starbelly Parade travels around the festival grounds, featuring jugglers and clowns dancing to their own music. There is also an interactive theatre performance for chlidren ages 4 and up. It showcases stories from China, Australia, and Africa, and emphasizes involvement from the audience. If this isn’t enough, there’s nearby Crawford Bay Park, which has swings, slides, teeter-totters, and plenty of space to toss balls or frisbees.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the festival. Originally the brainchild of a few creative citizens who were lounging at Starbelly Beach with too much free time on their hands, Starbelly Jam depends on the hard work and dedication of a core group of sleep-deprived organizers and an army of inspiring volunteers. Those involved with the event have deliberately kept it from becoming as big as some of the more renowned music fests in BC, such as the Merritt music festival, preferring to stick to its community roots and focus on celebrating life through music, friendship, and fun.
For more information about buying tickets, please see the official website: http://www.starbellyjam.org/
We’re currently selling early bird tickets online until the end of June. An adult weekend pass is $75, and a youth/senior weekend pass is only $35. Children 12 and under get in for free with an adult.