Ashcroft Wellness and Music Festival
This annual fun-filled festival focuses on health and well being. Mark your calendars this year for Saturday, July 18, and come down to the Heritage Park on Railway to enjoy and participate in the many activities and events scheduled. There’s much to see and do, with two stages filled with musical entertainment and a variety of “wellness themed” demonstrations, plus an amazing kids’ zone with activities for all ages, as well as vendor booths brimming with local information and services.
In addition to the entertainment, the Festival includes workshops and classes such as sushi making, yoga, camera classes, photo walks, history tours, and organized hikes. This year a “Wellness Healing Garden” has been added, giving visitors the opportunity to experience a wide range of healing arts under one roof.
8th annual Lillooet Apricot Festival
Lillooet’s annual Apricot Tsaqwem Festival is the weekend of July 24‑26. Events include the Lillooet Farmers Market on Friday and Saturday; Lillooet Golf Tournament; a street dance; live bands; a beer garden; dinner at the Legion on Saturday evening; and a baking with apricots and Saskatoon berries contest.
Romi Mayes returns to The Packing House
The Packing House in Spences Bridge presents the return of good friend Romi Mayes, on Thursday, July 23. If you haven’t heard Romi’s music yet, it’s time you did. She’s one of the hardest working independent musicians touring the globe. Devil On Both Shoulders, her sixth release, is another testament to why Mayes’s albums have garnered three Western Canadian Music Awards for Songwriter of the Year, two WCM Awards for Album of the Year, a Juno nomination for Album of the Year, and various Canadian Music Award nominations.
Mayes is known for her powerful lyrical ability that gives life to the words she sings. Her insightful, sweet, and edgy vocals paint pictures of heart on her sleeve sincerity and a road well travelled. The talented players who surround her are another confirmation of how her honest abilities draw the best of the best toward her authentic brand of roots music.
Dinner is from 5:30 pm, with music at 7:15 pm. Tickets are also available for the show only. To reserve your tickets for the dinner and/or show, call The Packing House at (250) 458-2256
The Jessica Stuart Few at Music in the Park
The Winding Rivers Arts and Performance Society presents a Music in the Park outdoor concert on Wednesday, July 29 with The Jessica Stuart Few. Jessica’s unprecedented take on the Japanese koto (a 13-stringed harp), her exceptional guitar work, and signature songwriting are innovative and refreshing, earning The Few main stage performances at festivals worldwide. Stuart exhibits a pitch-perfect vocal sensibility reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, with stunning 3-part harmonies onstage, earning the group a spot on the music industry and the media’s must-see lists.
Come early for a great seat. The music starts at 6:30 pm, so bring your family and friends, and a favourite lawn chair or blanket, to the Heritage Park gazebo on Railway and prepare to enjoy wonderful live music in a relaxed, family friendly venue. Admission is free, but pass-the-hat donations are encouraged.
Desert Daze Music Festival
The live music schedule for Spences Bridge’s 6th annual Desert Daze Music Festival has been confirmed; and what a line-up it is! Mark your calendars for August 7‑8 in the Bridge.
Desert Daze isn’t a country music festival, nor a roots and blues festival; nor is it fringe or a Palapalooza! Desert Daze is a MUSIC festival celebrating the best things in life: music, food, and fun in the desert sun. There will be two days of the best in blues, folk, country, and rock in a magnificent setting at the old school grounds, a stone’s throw from the Trans-Canada Highway, so come on out and celebrate rural communities with some incredible music that you can move to, groove to, clap, sing, and dance along to. No matter what kind of music you like, you will find lots of it at the 2015 Desert Daze! For details of this year’s lineup, visit www.desertdaze.ca.
Kids’ summer Fine and Dramatic Arts Camp
WRAPS is pleased to announce that this year’s Kids’ summer camp will be bigger and better than ever, and is designed for students entering Kindergarten through to grade 12. Elementary students will sing with Sabrina Weeks and Mike Hilliard, paint with Jo Petty, play music with David Dumont, and act with Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan! New this year is an opportunity for high school students to work on a special week-long project with Gareth Smart!
Classes run from August 17‑21 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm daily, with a lunch break at 11:30. Students are required to bring a bagged lunch, and snacks will be provided. The cost is $50 for the first child in a family and $30 for each additional sibling. Register by phone, e-mail, or online by August 7 at (250) 453-0036 or windingriversarts@gmail.com, or visit the WRAPS website at windingriversarts.ca.