With 22 musical acts over 12 hours organizers kept the flow going at Arts on the Fly music festival in Horsefly Saturday, July 22.
“We’ve been getting the most glorious feedback,” said Jenny Noble, vice-president of the Arts on the Fly committee, Tuesday. “Everything went smoothly, people had fun, they were helpful and cooperative. Our hearts are really full.”
It was the first time the festival happened since 2019 and organizers decided to start again small.
Only 300 tickets were sold and with volunteers and musicians there were about 400 people in total throughout the venues.
New this year was a larger river stage area deeper in the woods than where it was in 2019.
Bill Irwin, known as Electric Bill, and his crew assembled a solar stage system.
The stage and seating area were surrounded by large trees and behind the stage was the Horsefly River with lots of people accessing it from its rocky beach. Children played in the river all day.
Noble said the river stage is a keeper and replaced the large outdoor stage in the school yard with its side stage.
“The river stage was so much nicer because it had shade and trees,” she said.
As in previous years, the community hall served as the second performance venue.
For all of the concerts in the hall, there were door attendants counting how many people entered so as not to exceed capacity, which is 150 people for the entire building.
After each performance everyone would have to leave so that a fresh count could take place for the next performance in the hall.
All of the food vendors as well as an upcycled clothing vendor were in the river campground close to the entrance.
Past the vendors was the festival entrance table for artists, volunteers and ticket holders to check in.
Having the vendors located outside the performance area ensured everyone in the community had access to the vendors, Noble said.
There was a great variety of foods and beverages to be had.
Theresa Hanover was in charge of feeding the artists. Volunteers did shifts in the community hall kitchen to help her prepare and serve the food.
Hanover lived in Horsefly for many years and now lives in Williams Lake and cooks for a daycare, Noble said.
Noble thanked the Horsefly Community Club for hosting the festival, the Horsefly River Roundtable and Fisheries and Oceans Canada for letting them use the area, the local food growers and bakers who donated food and everyone who came out to the festival.
“I was so grateful to see all the smiles,” Noble said.
She also gave a shout-out to the security, first aid and Citizens on Patrol who all volunteered.
“They were all brilliant,” Noble added.
Final take-down was happening Tuesday, July 25 and Noble said the committee is already thinking about next year.
“We would love to hear any ideas people might have and welcome feedback.”
See more photos in the online article at efteen.com.
