Desert Daze Music Festival at Spences Bridge attracted between 300 and 400 people total over both days, Sept. 6 and 7.
Artistic director Jan J Schmitz said there were many highlights for him this year.
"The live music is top-notch from start to finish," he said. "We focus on presenting multiple genres of music and supporting many local musicians and artists."
For instance, he noted, the local communities of Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Spences Bridge and Lytton were well represented by such bands and musicians as Universal Permit, Nadine Davenport, The Dire Heart, Flat Busted, Colin Mastin, Sandra Hall, Roxanne Hall and the Melawmen Collective."
Bands that came from other areas such as Merritt and Kamloops were The Bunchgrass Boys, BC Top, Ross Fairweather, Bobby Garcia & 6 More Strings, The Ranters and others.
"And from the coast area we were delightfully entertained by Johnny & June, Small Town Artillery Collective, Folky Strum-Strum, The Latin Lovers and Mashtown."
Schmitz said for himself personally, the greatest and most satisfying "highlight" was witnessing the actual fulfillment of the Mission, Vision and Passion of the festival taking place before his own eyes in real time.
Sharing the mission, vision and passion of the festival, he said it is to "joyfully celebrate the diverse cultures, history and heritage of the Thompson-Nicola Region of B.C. and to engage, entertain, unify and strengthen the fabric of our rural lifestyles and communities through music and the arts."
Desert Daze started in 2009 and happens annually, with the exception of 2022 when it was cancelled because of wildfire threats.
Held at 4800 School Street at the Spences Bridge Improvement District building and grounds, the festival draws people from all over the Thompson-Nicola Region, but also from the coast, Northern B.C. and beyond.
"Many of our patrons schedule a stop at festival as part of their annual vacation itinerary," Schmitz said.
The Desert Daze Music Festival acknowledges it carries out its work on the traditional territories of the Nlak'pamux First Nation in B.C. and the Cooks Ferry Band, he added.
Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Schmitz said they deeply appreciated contributions from patrons, artists, artisans, vendors, sponsors and partners.
"The most critical ingredient to the continued and ongoing success of what we like to call "The Best Little Fest in the West," is the selfless dedication, vision, time and effort and hard work throughout the year by the Desert Daze Music Festival planning committee and all of their unpaid volunteers. Without them, Desert Daze would simply not exist."
