The kick-off event is held on Canada Day, with renowned First Nations musician Ed Peekeekoot headlining free outdoor concerts in Ucluelet and Tofino. On the second day, east-coast indie-pop duo The Superfantastics bring their experimental rock to the Weigh West Harbour Lounge in Tofino. They’ll be sharing the stage with popular local duo Smalltime Empire, who released their first EP earlier this year. The group consists of Tofino residents Anne Klazek and Ron Weeks, so you know they’ll be playing to a packed audience.

Day three features George Zukerman at the Clayoquot Community Theatre in Tofino and at the St. Aiden Church in Ucluelet. A member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of BC, he is one of the few – if not the only – solo bassoonists currently on tour, and the first one to ever be invited to the former Soviet Union, New Zealand, South Africa, and China.

The festival has a Sunday break on July 5th, followed by a film night at the Clayoquot Community Centre. This year, the film playing will be The Power of Song, the only authorized biography on Pete Seeger. On July 7th, the Greenpoint Campground and the Tofino Botanical Gardens play host to the string trio Infinitus, known for their unique blend of classical works with original jazz, Latin, and hip-hop arrangements.

On the 8th, there’s a Tribal Parks public performance at the Tin Wis Resort. The following day, come back to the Clayoquot Community Theatre to hear Zapato Negro, an Afro-Carribbean progressive jazz quintet. On the 10th, the USS Bandroom in Ucluelet showcases the amazing salsa and capoeira skills of Aché Brasil, one of the top martial arts performance groups in Canada. On the 14th, Australian David Ross brings his intricate fingerstyle guitar playing to the Darwin Cafe. Ross, who doubles as the drummer for the Waifs, is a rising star in his home country and has already released three superb acoustic albums.

The final day of the festival features Dj Robofoce with Tough Guys and Girls Cry at the Weigh West Harbour Lounge in Tofino.Expect lots of electronica with danceable beats and mindblowing effects!

There is also a hot dog and hamburger booth for anyone suffering from chilli overload, and games to keep the children occupied. Visitors are invited to camp overnight on the night prior, with a potluck campfire supper and music at the Spillimacheen festival grounds.

The event was created in January 1995 by Nola and Dennis Alt, apparently during a bout of winter “cabin fever” (their words!). Longing for a nice sunny day filled with good music and simmering pots of hot, hot chilli, they set out to create the first Spilli Chilli cook-off. This turned outto be difficult because no one in the area had ever heard of a chilli cook-off, much less planned or attended one! But other residents in the community, likely afflicted by their own bouts of winter cabin fever, responded with enthusiasm and cooperation. Their friend Cliff Birney wrote a song just for the event, and somehow convinced a few guitar players from the area to join him in performing it. A makeshift stage was set up on the flatbed trailer for the event, and other musicians from the valley to display their talent. A fun time was had by all!

Since then, the event has moved and continued to grow: in 2001, long-time Spillimacheen resident Frances Dunne offered to host the event on a gorgeous, treed site just off the highway for a minimum of ten years. A permanent stage was completed in 2004, with head of construction Will Wardwell being tricked into unveiling it – and consequently discovering that it was named after him!

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.

This year, the festival will be featuring Othello, The Comedy of Errors, All’s
Well That Ends Well, and Richard II from June until the end of September. The
plays are held on two stages: the Mainstage and the Douglas Campbell Studio Stage, both of which are set against Vancouver’s gorgeous coast mountains and the city skyline. The studio stage is smaller, seating only 240 people, and is used for Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays. Before and after each show, visitors can stroll through the tented Bard Village, which contains a gift shop and a concession.

For those who can catch a show during the end of July, there’s also a Bard B-Q for $98. Enjoy a delicious salmon barbeque during an extended intermission, and at the end of the show, enjoy the Celebration of Lights fireworks from a private seating area with coffee, treats, and a no-host bar. There are other popular events throughout the summer, including a wine and cheese sampling in August, a weekend lecture series, and Chatterbox Tuesdays, where visitors can join the cast before and after the shows to discuss the themes and plots.

For those looking to help out, there are numerous volunteer opportunities,
which include helping with the production, working at the concession, or
greeting patrons at the entrance. Enjoy the festival from a whole new
perspective, while taking in the sun and learning about Shakespeare. For
youths, there are also two-week workshops, in which actors from the company lead you through abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, focusing on language, acting, voice, and movement.

The annual ball was first held in 1868, in the famous Clinton Hotel owned by the late Joe Smith. It was originally organized to help new settlers in the
area feel more comfortable as they tried to establish themselves in the new
country. In  those days, tickets were $5 per couple, and guests arrived by
horse carriage. At the height of its popularity, the annual ball spanned
several nights, with couples travelling from Clinton to Twenty-mile, Ashcroft,
Spencer Bridge, Lytton, Lilloet, and then back to Clinton. The annual ball has
survived all the tumult of the twentieth century, from the two World Wars, the Great Depression, and fluctuating economic conditions. Today, the ball
celebrates Clinton’s storied history and its wonderful community spirit.

Originally a mid-winter event, guests would sometimes have to risk driving through dangerous conditions in deep snow; in years where the snow was particularly heavy, some out-of-town guests were forced to return to their
homes in Kamloops, 150 Mile House, or Williams Lake. Thankfully, sometime in the mid-twentieth century, the event was switched over to May to coincide with the long weekend break, making it much easier for those from far away to make the long trip. Once held at the Clinton Hotel, which burned down in a fire in 1958, the ball is now held in the Memorial Hall. Tickets are $75, and doors open at 5:00pm.

For kids, there are a variety of children’s activities. The most popular attraction are the inflatable toy bouncers, which are filled throughout the day with kids jumping around while trying to keep their balance. There’s also a bungee run, a jousting and inflatable boxing ring, a climbing wall, and a Kids Fun Zone which features face painting.

The Sunshine Festival is held every June on the Saturday before Father’s Day.

Held in Castlegar, just a short distance from Christina Lake, the event begins every September on the first Sunday after Labor Day. At 8:00 in the morning, there is a pancake breakfast at the Castlegar Recreation Complex, where riders can meet and get to know one another. Registration only costs $10, or a new toy donation per person. Toys are preferred! At 10am, there is a ride through downtown Castlegar, followed by a 30-minute trip to Nelson, where there is a short stop to pick up toys collected by Nelson Home Hardware and Heritage Pawn. At noon, the motorcycles stop in Salmo for a great lunch thrown by firefighters at the local Fire Hall.

After lunch, there’s a ride to Fruitvale and downtown Trail in front of Ferrero Foods to pick up more toys from Wolf’s Den Tattoo. The toy run then continues on to Rossland, to check out the annual Rossland Golden City Days and to pick up toys collected by the local Legion and Eagles clubs. Finally, at 3:30pm, the toy run ends in Castlegar at the recreation complex, where riders can relax and enjoy music and refreshments. For those who purchase raffle tickets, there is also a draw for for a brand new Harley-Davison. If you enjoy motorcycle riding, or just want to participate as a volunteer by collecting toys or helping with traffic control, come out to Castlegar in September! There’s a general planning meeting on the first Tuesday of every month in Castlegar. See the website link for more information.

Links:

West Kootenay Toy Run:

www.members.shaw.ca/toy.run/

Christina Lake – New Horizon Motel

www.selectlodging.com/Blog/tabid/80/EntryID/14/Default.aspx

Visitors can come in early on Saturday to enjoy a pancake breakfast, and then spend the rest of the day enjoying the many livestock and equestrian shows. The fair parade begins at noon, moving from the Station House Restaurant to the fairgrounds. This is followed by the opening of the Exhibit Hall, with workshops and hundreds of items on display. There are rodeo performances in the arena, with highlights including pony chariot and chuckwagon racing. From 8pm to 1 in the morning, the Fall Fair Hall has cabaret dancing for adults.

The following days feature more rodeo performances, plus a cowboy concert in the Fair Hall on Sunday. For adults, there are also beer gardens where you can enjoy a few drinks with friends while watching the competitions in the arena.

Previous Blog Entries:

Clearwater – Clearwater Lodge:

www.selectlodging.com/Blog/tabid/80/EntryID/13/Default.aspx

The Parksville Beach Festival is held in conjunction with the competition, so there’s also a fireworks display, entertainment for kids, croquet tournaments, and beach volleyball. The sculptures remain in place until the end of August, so if you’re with a tour group, you can arrange to have lunch beside them, under a canopy tent. Provided by the Parksville Beach Festival  Society, the lunch includes sandwiches, fresh fruit, dessert, and beverages.