Kootenay Festivals and Events 2009

Ongoing /  Recurring Events:

• Arrow Lakes Fine Arts-Alfa Guild Gallery
  2009 Exhibition Season Nakusp. June 3-Aug 23 (Gallery Hours Wednesday - Sunday 12-4 pm) 311 Broadway Street (Selkirk College) Nakusp.
  Four exhibitions featuring work of various artists. Member room displays work of local artists. Opening receptions June 5, June 26, July 15, August 7 (6:00-8:00 pm).
  alfaguild@telus.net
   
• Kaslo Saturday Market
  June 6-September 12 Bowling Green, Kaslo.
  Every Saturday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm.
  Local produce and artwork, munchies, music, bargains, and more, at the old Bowling Green (beside the hotel) on Front Street. Jen 250-353-7592 kaslomarkets@shaw.ca
   
• Castlegar's 13th Annual Art Walk
  June 25-September 13 Castlegar.
  Venues all around the city. Guides available at the Chamber of Commerce Info Centre - Art Walk will feature over twenty artists and craftspeople. Join us for our opening event, June 25 - location TBA.
  Castlegar Chamber of Commerce 250-365-6313
   
• VISAC Art Walk 09
  June 27-August 28 Trail.
  Many artists and venues.
  Visac 250-364-1181 or Alan Scott 250-368-9625
   
• Music in the Park
  July 1-August 26 Gazebo, Nakusp.
  Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:00 pm.
  Join us for a free evening of Music produced by Basin musicians (across from the beach) - rain or shine. Bring a lawn chair.
  Karen Hamling 250-265-3322
   
• Fernie Mountain Market
  Canada Day-Labour Day Weekend Fernie.
  Sundays 10am-2pm Rotary Park Hwy #3.
  Linking artisans with aficionados of the hand crafted. Connecting farmers with connoisseurs of the locally grown. Come join us!
  250-423-6674 www.mountainmarket.ca
   
• The Gold Fever Follies
  July 1-August 22 Rossland Miner’s Hall. Tuesday through Saturday.
  Live musical theatre for the whole family from Rossland’s gold rush days featuring singers, can-can dancers & a barrel of laughs.
  ray@goldfeverfollies.com www.goldfeverfollies.com
   
• Arts Summer School 09
  July 5-August 9 KSA at Selkirk College, Nelson.
  Two to five day intensive workshops in Clay, Metal, Jewellery, Drawing,
  Design, Painting, Collage, Photoshop for Artists, and more.
  www.selkirk.ca/programs/ksa
   
• Arts Youth Programs 09
  July 5-August 21 KSA at Selkirk College, Nelson.
  Fun creative camps (ages 8-18) in Jewellery, Fashion Design, Illustrating,
  Metal, Pottery, Digital Film and more.
  www.selkirk.ca/programs/ksa
   
• Creston Concert Society
  2009–2010 Season, October through April, Creston.
  A season of 5 shows at the Prince Charles Auditorium representing Music, Dance, Theatre and Comedy, presented annually.
  250-428-2711 www.crestonconcertsociety.ca
   

May 2009

• Kootenay Children’s Festival
  May 9 Cranbrook.
  Mt. Baker High School Field. The festival is a fun filled day at no cost to families. The basic principles are; no cost, no competitions, no commercialism. 10:00 am-4:00 pm.
  Doreen Keith 250-417-4061
   
• 68th Annual Creston Valley Blossom Festival
  May 15-18.
  Spend the May long weekend in the Creston Valley. Enjoy country singer/guitar player, Wendell Ferguson (nominated for "Album of the Year" - CCMA Awards), Parade, Street Fair, Chilli Cookoff, Classic Car Show, Battle of the Bands, Pancake Breakfast, Kidapalooza and more.
  250-428-4284 blossomfestival.ca info@blossomfestival.ca
   

June 2009

• Write in the Kootenays
  June 13 &14 Creston.
  Annual travelling writers' conference. Readings, workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, Zen writing, the writer's life, and more. Get inspired!
  www.bcwriters.com/kootenays
   
• Revelstoke Music Festival
  June 26 & 27 Centennial Park, Revelstoke.
  Join us on the banks of the beautiful Columbia River for a fun-filled week-end of eclectic sounds! A lil' something for all - blues, reggae, funk, rock, acoustic...kids stuff in the afternoon, great food, camping.
  1-800-457-0493 www.revmusicfest.com
   
• Elkford Wildcat Days
  June 26-29 Elkford Town Centre.
  Spectacular Fireworks, Slo-Pitch Tournament, Refreshment Gardens, Family Activities, Adult Dance, Trade & Craft Fair, Parade, Kids Triathlon and more.
  Nicole 250-865-4614 info@tourismelkford.ca www.tourismelkford.ca
   

July 2009

• The Art of Philately Exhibit
  Opening July 1 New Denver.
  Hidden Garden Gallery, Artist Deborah Borsos. The Art of Philately (originals and stamps) opening . Food and drink; live performance (with Pat Henman) and artist in attendance. 12-5 p.m.
  250-366-4325 www.deborahborsos.wordpress.com
   
• Dominion Day
  July 1 Fort Steele Heritage Town.
  Happy birthday Canada! Bring the whole family for an entire day of good old fashioned fun! Musical entertainment, street theatre, heritage games, wagon rides, train rides and so much more.
  250-417-6000 www.fortsteele.ca
   
• Nakusp Canada Day Celebrations
  July 1 Downtown & Park, Nakusp.
  Full day of fun! Pancake breakfast, parade, family fun in the park, live band, concession, beer garden, fireworks.
  250-265-0024 www.nakusparrowlakes.com
   
• Mountain Mosaic Festival of the Arts
  July 1 Invermere.
  Family Festival featuring the Canada Day Parade, live entertainment, food kiosks, bounce castles, arts & crafts, performing arts, all on the shores of Lake Windermere, Pynelogs Cultural Centre 11 am–4 pm.
  250-342-4423 www.columbiavalleyarts.com
   
• Nelson Artwalk
  July 3–August 6 Nelson.
  The Nelson & District Arts Council invites you to join us for our 21st Annual ArtWalk to showcase local artists. The exhibits open July 3 with receptions held at venues throughout downtown. The first series of exhibits runs until Aug. 6. Brochures and maps will be available at the Visitor’s Centre, participating venues and local hotels.
  250-352-2402 ndac@netidea.com
   
• Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships
  July 6-11 Civic Centre, Kimberley.
  36th Annual World Old Time Accordion Competitions (KIOTAC).
  1-888-4KIOTAC 250-427-7318 www.kiotac.ca info@kiotac.ca
   
• 9th Annual Whatshan Lake Music Festival
  July 10-12 Whatshan Lake Retreat.
  A family festival featuring country, blue grass, blues, folk/roots and light rock music in a beautiful natural setting.
  Information: Allan Markin 250-493-6150 amarkin@shaw.ca
  Tickets & Camping: Debbie 604-594-1030 wlmf@whatshan.com
   
• Starbelly Jam Music Festival
  July 18 &19 Crawford Bay.
  Family music festival, lots of different music and other entertainment from near and far, food, crafts, and fun!
  250-225-3333 www.starbellyjam.org
   
• PyneStock Concert: 2 Hours of Peace & Music
  July 23 Invermere.
  Highly successful youth concert, a dozen local twenty-somethings get together and arrange improvisational, creative, and never-before-heard compositions. With a smidgen of classical, two scoops of rock, and three giant helpings of who-the-heck-knows what genre, PyneStock is a nine-layer dip of entertainment, at Pynelogs Cultural Centre 7:00 pm.
  250-342-4423 www.columbiavalleyarts.com
   
• Blackie & the Rodeo Kings
  July 31 Kaslo Bay Park.
  KJES presents Blackie & the Rodeo Kings. Gates open 6:30 pm. Tickets
  only $25.
  250-353-7577 online tickets www.kaslojazzfest.com
   

August 2009

• 18th Annual Kaslo Jazz Etc. Summer Music Festival
  August 1-2 Kaslo Bay Park.
  Richie Havens, Brad Turner, Elmer Ferrer, leFuzz, CaneFire, Mimosa, Five Alarm Funk, Reptet, Amanda Tosoff, and more.
  250-353-7577 www.kaslojazzfest.com
   
• ’09 Columbia Valley Tour of the Arts
  August 2 Invermere.
  Showcasing Columbia Valley Artists in historic settings. Guest artists at each site displaying, demonstrating and explaining their work. Art for sale at all locations. Full day event, finishing up at Pynelogs Cultural Centre.
  250-342-4423 www.columbiavalleyarts.com
   
• 4th Annual Sandcastle Contest
  August 2 Nakusp Public Beach.
  Free contest for all ages & skills, various categories and prizes - beautiful beach. Building starts at 9:00 am, bring your sand tools!
  250-265-0024 www.nakusparrowlakes.com
   
• Arts on the Edge 2009, Kimberley’s Festival of the Arts
  August 7-9 Various locations in Kimberley.
  A multi-arts festival featuring visual art exhibitions, artisan booths, workshops, continuous outdoor musical performances, story-telling, a dance and children’s activities.
  250-427-4919 www.kimberleyarts.com
   
• Nelson Artwalk
  August 7–September 12.
  The Nelson & District Arts Council invites you to join us for our 21st Annual ArtWalk to showcase local artists. The second series of exhibits opens August 7 with receptions held at venues throughout downtown. Exhibits run until closing date Saturday, September 12. Brochures and maps will be available at the Visitor’s Centre, participating venues, and local hotels.
  250-352-2402 ndac@netidea.com
   
• Columbia Basin Culture Tour
  August 15.
  Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour. Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive displays or chat with local historians during this day long cultural celebration!
  CKCA 250-505-5505 or toll free 1-877-505-7355 www.cbculturetour.com
   
• 4th Annual Gold Panning Days
  August 15-16 Fort Steele Heritage Town.
  Fun for the whole family. Experts to greenhorns welcome. Panning competitions and other choke-cherry-spitting-log-hammering fun n’ games throughout the day! Join us for our farmers market and Saturday night dance.
  250-417-6000 www.fortsteele.ca
   

September 2009

• 1st Annual Dogs 'N Hawgz
  September 5-6 Toad Rock Motorcycle Campground.
  A fundraising event for the Second Chance Animal Shelter in Nelson. Guest speakers, presentations, vendors, evening entertainment. A chance to learn all about pet care and share your travelling stories, while helping to support the Second Chance Animal Shelter.
  1-877-229-5448 info@toadrockcampground.com 
  www.toadrockcampground.com
   
• Kimberley International Music and Dance Festival
  September 5 Kimberley Rotary Park.
  A Family Celebration of cultural diversity of our community and Province. Music, Dance, Food and Vendor Village! One day event.
  250-427-4893 www.kimberley.ca
   
• Kicking Horse Country Fall Faire
  September 12 Golden.
  Join us for an authentic country fair, uniting old-time competition with great entertainment and fun for the whole family.
  Colleen Palumbo, Golden Museum 250-344-5169
   
• Hills Garlic Festival
  September 13 Centennial Park New Denver. Sunday 10:00 am-5:00 pm.
  A great family festival of homemade, homegrown, organic garlic, produce, crafts, food, and entertainment beside the shores of Slocan Lake!
  Ellen Kinsel 250-358-2459 www.hillsgarlicfest.ca
   
• 30th Kootenay Boundary Regional Art Exhibition
  September (dates TBA).
  Online art exhibition and competition featuring regional art and fine craft. Cash prizes in Emerging and Established Artist categories. One scholarship to the “2010 Tony Onley Artist’s Project” at Island Mountain Arts, Wells BC will also be awarded (www.imarts.com).
  250-352-2421 wkrac@telus.net
   

October 2009

• Literary Competition/Festival
  October (Dates TBA) Nelson.
  Co-sponsored by the Nelson & District Arts Council and Oxygen Studio, the literary competition provides an opportunity for local writers to compete for prizes. Awards ceremony and readings of the winning entries will be held at Oxygen Studio.
  250-352-2402 ndac@netidea.com
   
• Kootenay Artisans Market
  October/November (Dates TBA) Nelson.
  Do your Christmas shopping early! The 31st annual Kootenay Artisans Market will be held in Nelson in the fall to provide an opportunity for local artists and artisans to offer their work for sale. A major event each year, this festival provides a wonderful chance to buy local art for yourself or for Christmas presents! Event offers food and musical entertainment.
  250-352-2402 ndac@netidea.com
   
• Cabaret Celebrating 40th Anniversary
  October 17 Creston.
  Community Arts Council of Creston. Event location 19th Ave N off Canyon Street 7:00 pm-midnight. Harry Miller 250-428-2527 info@crestonvalleyarts.org www.crestonvalleyarts.org
   

November 2009

• Arts and Crafts Annual Christmas Fair
  November 28 Creston & Dist. Rec. Complex.
  Hosted by the Community Arts Council of Creston. Over 60 booths with diverse handcrafted items by Kootenay and beyond artists, artisans and crafters. Food, music, service groups and raffles. 19th Ave N off Canyon Street 9:00 am-5:00 pm.
  Harry Miller 250-428-2527 info@crestonvalleyarts.org www.crestonvalleyarts.org
   

December 2009

• Inspiring Minds Art Sale and Open House
  December 4 & 5 Castlegar (Robson).
  Enjoy artwork by instructor Mirja Vahala and her students while touring the elegant Windborne B&B. December 4: 7:00 pm-9:30 pm and December 5: 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Windborne Bed & Breakfast, 3900 Broadwater Road. 250-365-7679 www.inspiringminds.ca