Description: Though it is 26 years old, we first attended the VFF in 2004. With early purchase, it will cost C$100 per adult for the full two and a half days. It is worth the price to see headliners like Odetta and Bruce Cockburn, who would cost more to see individually. There were over 40 other performers from around the world who performed a wide variety of folk and traditional music. Details about this year's festival can be found at http://www.thefestival.bc.ca/.
The site is surrounded by temporary fencing, but attendees are free to leave and return with an intact wristband. The festival opens on Friday evening with several acts on the main stage. While there are seven other stages, they are used only for daytime performances on Saturday and Sunday. Seating is on the grass, so most attendees bring blankets, lawn chairs, and other creature comforts. There is no reserved seating, except for some areas set aside for those in wheelchairs.
We were advised to arrive early on Saturday and Sunday mornings to secure a good site for viewing those evenings’ headliners. After depositing our mats, we were free to wander from stage to stage to listen to those on that day’s schedule. It is a longstanding tradition for place-holding blankets to be left where they are for the return of the owners that evening. We were amazed at how proximate we were to some of the smaller stages. Naturally, if you stay put at one stage all day, you will have a better spot than if you wander from stage to stage. Nonetheless, even from the back of the crowd, we had a good view of other performers.
While many bring their own food, there are food vendors on site who are chosen for culinary variety and social consciousness. On-site food is reasonably priced, but because of ecological considerations, washable, not paper plates are used. Each plate had a $2 refundable deposit. We had some excellent grilled salmon with sides for less than C$10.
Water faucets were available for hand washing and the refilling of water bottles, but there were long lines during the day. The chemical toilets were cleaned daily and well maintained, but long lines could form. Also on site is a first-aid tent in case of minor mishaps.
We had sunny days for last year’s festival, but the show goes on regardless of the weather, so be prepared.
There were the usual arts-and-crafts vendors, but the busiest tent was the one selling CDs of the performers. The music sold out for many of the artists, especially right before that artist was available to autograph the CD.
We enjoyed our "newbie" year at the festival and plan on enjoying it even more this year. I was quite impressed with how well run it was in spite of a couple of inconveniences. It is well worth the trip to Vancouver to attend it.
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