Contributed by FestivalSeekers‘ Steve MacNaull
Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival
Robyn Cyr is one hip and awesome grandma. During the day she plays with her grandkids, aged 10, six and two, at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival. They romp in the bouncy castle and play games in the Family Fun Zone and pound on bongos, shake tambourines and dance in the interactive Playzone.
Of course, there are drinks and treats from food truck alley afterward. Then the kids go home to the babysitter and Cyr gathers her husband, daughter and son-in-law.
Charlie Jacobson at the 2017 fest
The adults return to the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival for one of the Saturday night’s headliner concerts – Celtic trio McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle. Roots and Blues truly is the multi-generational family-friendly music fest.
Read more on FestivalSeekers »
It’s not too loud or too rowdy. And with 40 acts playing daytime and nighttime on four different stages, you’re sure to discover some amazing blues, folk, country, bluegrass, boogie, soul, funk, gospel, jazz, Celtic or reggae sounds.
The 25th anniversary fest in 2017 featured Cuban-Canadian jazz master Alex Cuba, 17-time Grammy winner bluegrass prince Ricky Skaggs and Indigenous DJ Shub.
My wife and I grooved to Alex Cuba, while our 15-year-old daughter and her friend were off catching the Talking Dreads’ beach-themed reggae. And we didn’t have to worry about two teens being off on their own on the grounds.
The 26th annual festival will be held in 2018 from August 16 to 19 and will again attract 35,000 to not just revel in the music, but also bask in Salmon Arm’s summer sunshine.
Performers include six-time Juno winner Colin James, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Family Stone, blues rockers MonkeyJunk, electric blues singer/songwriter Big Dave McLean, country-jazz artist Cindy Church, accordian-playing singer/songwriter Geoff Berner, blues evangelist Harpdog Brown and the West African rhythms of David Thiaw.
Houseboating with the Family
On the shore of Shuswap Lake in British Columbia’s idyllic Southern Interior, the region is a water sports, hiking, biking, wine and dine super-destination. You can combine the best of both worlds and use a houseboat as your floating hotel suite while attending the 2018 fest.
Roots and Blues and Waterway Houseboats has partnered to meld the two iconic experiences with fest packages.
Moor your luxury vessel at Salmon Arm Wharf and you are only a 15-minute walk through downtown Salmon Arm to the fest grounds.
A houseboat is an incredible family holiday headquarters. Waterways has multiple models that sleep 10 to 30. There’s no roughing it with comfy beds, air conditioning, gourmet kitchen with dishwasher, living room, dining room, fun decks for lounging and hitting the waterslide and both indoor and outdoor command centres to pilot the boat.
If You Go
- Get more details on the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival
- #ExploreShuswap, start by checking into Shuswap Tourism’s website.
- Did you know that the Roots and Blues Festival grounds are a 10 min walk to the Salmon Arm marina? Think outside the box and hit the water for the festival – rent a houseboat with our partners Waterway Houseboats.
- 2018 Waterways Houseboats celebrates its 50th anniversary on the Shuswap Lake. They are giving away 50 wicked prizes to celebrate! By booking and sharing your trip on social media using the #Waterway50for50 you will be entered to win 1 of 5 grand prizes including winning back your houseboat trip, a 2019 houseboat trip and more! And, all 2018 bookings will receive an extra $150 off. Discover your new favourite way to vacation. Book today.
- Read more about Houseboating on ZenSeekers.com
The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival is August 16-19, 2018. Tickets are available online now.
On May 15, Vancouver City Council approved the signing of a proclamation to declare 2018 “The Year of the Queer” in Vancouver, in recognition of decades of LGBTQ contributions to the artistic, cultural, and social landscape of Vancouver. To celebrate, and to kickstart your summer with some really fun events, I have a fun prize package to give away featuring the following:
Queer Arts Festival
When: June 16 to June 28, 2018
Where: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, except where noted.
Tickets: Available online now
The Queer Arts Festival (“QAF”) marks its landmark 10th anniversary this year with a multi-disciplinary summer celebration called DECADEnce, running June 16 to 28, 2018 at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre also commemorates Pride in Art’s 20th year as an artist-led organization, and features a boundary-pushing, dialogue-igniting array of creators that amplify artistic risk-taking and incite creative collaboration and experimentation.
The 2018 Queer Arts Festival will mark the monumental milestone with a varied and provocative array of visual art, performance, and special programming: Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Tigh-Na-Mara is a legendary Parksville getaway, and by legendary I mean if I speak the words “Tigh-Na-Mara” or “Grotto Spa” in casual conversation around Vancouver the common response is: “Ooooh, so amazing!” This seaside getaway, with spa bungalows, forest cabins, and oceanfront villas offers year-round dining, spa experiences, endless sandy beach walks, and those epic east coast Vancouver Island sunrises.
Happy Birthday, Grotto Spa
This year, Tigh-Na-Mara is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Grotto Spa, which isn’t just your regular spa! Sure, you can pop in for a mani, pedi, facial, or massage treatment but the key is to made a full day out of your visit. Live in your robe. Hang out under the waterfall in the mineral pool, then head upstairs for a treatment or for endless tapas in the Treetop Tapas & Grill.
I’ll never forget the first time John and I had a couples’ massage at the Grotto Spa about 10 years ago. We both came out of the room trying to walk, but instead we looked like a newborn fawn learning how to work its legs. One of the therapists said: “Spa drunk, it’s a thing.” We made our way to the lounge, sipped some cucumber water, melted into the fluffy blankets, and totally blissed out. John still relishes his first “Spa Drunk” moment – that involved no alcohol whatsoever. Side note: If you do want alcohol, the wine and cocktail selection at the Treetop Bistro will hit the spot.
We could spend all day at the spa (and we have) and several days hanging around our room or cabin, stoking the fireplace or watching the waves roll in (and we have). But, if you’re looking to explore more of the Parksville Qualicum Beach area, and keep your totally chilled out island vibe, you can also try the Reconnect Package that includes a Forest Bathing Tour.
Forest Bathing in Qualicum Beach
Gary and Ronda Murdock lead Pacific Rainforest Adventure Tours and they offer a Forest Bathing Tour in the Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest. First things first: There are no bathtubs involved. The term comes from immersing yourself, and your senses, in the atmosphere of the forest.
There’s something about being in the forest that makes you relax, and for me I sometimes get giddily happy when I come across an old growth Douglas Fir – who feels like an old friend. This particular forest is in a Coastal Douglas Fir Moist Maritime Zone (as opposed to a Coastal Temperate Rainforest like Vancouver). It gets less rain on the east coast of Vancouver Island but it’s the same region in which you can find Cathedral Grove.
Ronda will lead you through the forest trails silently, and in stages. You’ll concentrate on experiencing the forest through your senses. Sight, sound, touch. Pausing in intervals to reflect on the sensations you feel.
A study out of Japan found that people who were exposed to forest settings had greatly improved cortisol (stress) levels, pulse rates, blood pressure, and parasympathetic nerve activity levels versus those who were exposed to urban settings. Science has confirmed the evidence on the positive effects of contact with nature on our physical, emotional and mental well-being.
It’s walking therapy for the body and soul! Combine it with your Tigh-Na-Mara visit and you’ll melt away the city’s stresses.
Reconnect Package
The two packages offered are:
Reconnect #1) Enjoy 2 or more nights’ accommodation in a Spa Bungalow Studio, Reconnect welcome amenity, 2 hour Forest Bathing Tour and mineral pool access at the Grotto Spa..
Reconnect #2) Enjoy 2 or more nights’ accommodation in a Spa Bungalow Studio, Reconnect welcome amenity, 2 hour Forest Bathing Tour + 1 hour informative Beach Walk and mineral pool access at the Grotto Spa.
48 hours notice recommended to guarantee ideal tour dates and times. Minimum two people needed to book this package.
For more information, get in touch with Tigh-Na-Mara on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Book by calling 1-800-663-7373 or visit the website.
It’s been our go-to anniversary getaway spot for several years, and we were so happy to be back this year during the signature Parksville Uncorked festival.
Read more: Parenting Paradise in Parksville, 5 Ways to Enjoy a Vancouver Island Getaway in Parksville, Girls Getaway to Tigh-Na-Mara.
The National Lacrosse League announced today the approval of the sale of the Vancouver Stealth to Canucks Sports & Entertainment. Vancouver’s new NLL team will commence play at Rogers Arena beginning in the 2018-2019 season.
Vancouver Stealth former owner, Denise Watkins, and Jason Winslade from Langley Events Centre have released these statements:
“I am pleased to announce that today, the National Lacrosse League’s Board of Governors approved the purchase of the Vancouver Stealth by Canucks Sports & Entertainment. The team will play in Vancouver at Rogers Arena during the National Lacrosse League’s 2018/19 season starting in December this year.
“The Stealth relocated from Washington state to Langley in 2013, the same year we played the NLL’s championship game against the Rochester Knighthawks at the Langley Events Centre. I knew we found our home after that game,” Watkins said in announcing the sale. “The LEC management, staff, sponsors and fans across British Columbia welcomed us to the building that night. While we lost the championship game, soon after we won a home that will forever be in my heart.
The former owners describe the sale as a “heartbreaking decision” but they believe fans will be pleased with the direction the Canucks organization takes the team.
“Langley Events Centre is proud to have worked cooperatively with the National Lacrosse League and the Stealth organization to bring the league back to Metro Vancouver in 2014. For the past five seasons the facility and it’s staff have been home to the league and the BC lacrosse community and we look forward to working with the NLL and Canucks Sports & Entertainment to continue to support the franchise, the league, and the growth of the sport in our province,” Winslade said.
Over the coming months, the Vancouver lacrosse franchise will undergo a transformation, including a new name, brand and logo. A special event will be held in the coming months to unveil more details.
The NLL 18-game regular season begins in December 2018 and runs through April 2019. Games are primarily scheduled on Friday and Saturday nights. The NLL playoffs begin in May and conclude in June with the NLL Finals.
Fans interested in priority access to tickets for the upcoming 2018-2019 season at Rogers Arena are invited to call 604-899-GOAL or sign up on this page for more updates and information.
Port Moody residents are invited to enjoy free and fun activities at their first-ever Port Moody Community Fair on June 23rd.
Port Moody Community Fair
Where: Civic Centre (100 Newport Drive)
When: Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
The Port Moody Community Fair will include free and fun activities for all ages, as well as opportunities to connect with the people, services, and organizations that make Port Moody such an amazing place to live. New and long-time residents alike will find a wealth of information about City and community services, parks and recreation, arts and culture, and public safety. The Community Fair is also a chance to discover volunteer opportunities, clubs, community associations, and more.
There will be free activities and entertainment for families, including an inflatable slide, mini train rides, toddler bounce area, video arcade truck, Science World demos, the Fun GymBus (a kids’ gym on wheels), a face painter, and a photo booth. Fire juggler Mike Battie and entertainer Ruffle Redbird will be on site too.
Visit more than 30 booths hosted by community organizations and a City of Port Moody Pop-Up City Hall. Follow the event on Facebook for more information.
Enjoy more of Port Moody this summer by taking the new, free Port Moody Shoreline Shuttle.
