Friday 27 July 2012

Life Off the Grid 20 - The Folk Festival Journey - July 4, 2012


July 4, 2012

First day of folk fest.

Heather and I got up at 5:45 AM so we could be ready and on the road by 6:30. Didn't quite work out, but we were close. They open the park gates at 7 AM and prior to that, people are not allowed to line up on the highway. We tried to time it to arrive at 7, but at least we hit the end of a long, long line at 7:15. We waited. Getting irate when people tried to cut up ahead. Rude, that is. Getting anxious when people were taking the bridge overpass to bypass the line we were in. It took about an hour to go the half kilometre or so and get into the park.

Finally we were in and driving. We got to the festival camping site and were directed into a bizarre gridlock of cars. Rows and rows of vehicles, bumper to bumper and just enough room to walk between the rows. It began to rain. I grabbed a bag which I thought was the gazebo tent and the ground sheets and sent Heather to walk in and get us a campsite. I thought it wouldn't be that long before I could join her with more of our gear. Not so.

After a bit she texted me - “I'm in!” And awhile after that she texted - “I found a decent spot. Fire pit. Near the bathrooms”.

It wasn't until noon that I got through the horrors of early morning camp parking and hauled some gear into the campground. At least I had the truck to take shelter in. Poor Heather was out in the rain a lot of the time. In spite of the rain there was a fair bit of drinking, partying, playing hacky-sack and frisbee and tossing balls in the parking line-up.


Where I wound up parking.

By the time I got to our campsite, the rain had stopped. The clouds slowly cleared and by the time we finished setting up camp, it was blazing hot.




I had planned to go back into town to get some things done, but, no. I was already too frazzled and tired to cope with traffic and retail outlets. So, on with the beer and partying and walking around the campground.



Geodesic dome across from us with solar power and nightly amplified live music.



The Games. There are a group of guys, camping next to us as it happened, who hand-make and bring a collection of games to amuse campers.

There's giant scrabble...

Giant connect 4... Also giant Jenga, Dominoes, etc.

There are many themed campsites.

Jurrasic Park

Bongzilla Villa
Teepee Village
Star Wars
And a circus!





Some people adjust their campsites to their preferences, such as taking several tents and tarps and creating a single large structure.

Probably the most ambitious themed settlement of all is constructed each year by a group know as The Castle Boys. Last year they did a frontier-style street front. This year was a little older-looking and more exotic...


There are also art installations throughout the campground.

This pair was at one of the pass-throughs between different sections of the campground. No, I don't know what they are. Heather suggested beets...


Creativity seems to be bursting out all over.










The helpful folks who organize camping post a big map of the campground layout.

The beautiful entrance to the campground from the festival site.


Just before 7 we went across to the folk festival site. There we found the line-up for wrist bracelets. Crazy! Of course, we did our lining up in the morning. In the rain.


First glimpse of the Folk Festival site.

Helpful sign post

This will be the Hand-Made Village when the daytime festival begins on Friday. Many craftspeople come and sell their wares – clothing, jewelry, instruments and more!

You have to walk along between the food stands to get to Main Stage seating. Much yummy food available, with vendors including Mondragon, Casa Burrito, Bellissimo, Classic Car-B-Que, Common Ground Cafe, Dickie Dee, East India Company, Fresh Cafe, Forbidden Flavours, Gramma's Kettle Korn, Green Bean Coffee Imports, Kawaii Crepe, Lemon Heaven, Manitoba Harvest Hemp, Organic Meadow, Santa Lucia, Skinners, Sukhothai, The Nomad's Kitchen, The Star Grill, and Whales Tails
A very popular spot – one of the festival's 2 taverns...

Banks of outhouses can be found here and there to meet the needs of thousands of festival-goers.


In the tavern you have the option to sit under the canopy or out in the sun.


Approaching the main stage...


Lots of folks setting up for an evening of music, even though it's a Wednesday night.

The Eats vendors. Whales Tails are a particular favourite. If you've never had one, it is a flat, round, crispy/chewy piece of fried bread dough about as big as a dinner plate and as thin as a thin pizza crust. You can choose between a variety of sweet and savoury toppings. My favourite is garlic parmesan :)

Feist was the headliner Wednesday evening.

Jumbotrons are a relatively new innovation at Folk Fest... Sure helps when you are away at the back...



There are lots of open spaces for dancing


The trio of women singing back-up on the right are a band in their own right – called Mountain Men


All in all, a good evening concert.

I was very tired. 12:12AM and I am in bed. Drumming and whooping all around outside...

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