Kispiox Music Fest 2012

Hello hello hello…. I can almost hear an echo in here on my little blog. It’s simply been too nice outside to be blogging, I’m sorry to say. The irony is that when life is too busy to blog there is a lot to blog about! I’m hoping to do some catch up soon.

First up, I wanted to share about one of my favourite gatherings of the year- Kispiox Music Festival. It was crazy busy this year. I had been wondering if CBC sponsoring the festival had brought in so many more festival goers this year. It was so great to have friends at every turn. Prince Rupert made a fine showing this weekend. Notwithstanding, I was somewhat overwhelmed with the masses, particularly the younger crowd who spent a large part of their time with a drink in their hands. The music was awesome with Hannah Epperson, Jenny Ritter, Joanna Chapman-Smith, Liron Man, CR Avery, Frances and Sarah, Cromoli Brothers to name just a few.

Lily, Leif and I were pleased to camp with a whole group of other young families around a centrally (and expertly) hung tarp for cooking and eating. It was a lot of fun with so many kids around. Who wouldn’t love story time with no less than 14 kids sitting in one end of a camp trailer?

The festival’s opening ceremony was really well done this year. We were welcomed by the Gitxsan House of Mauus who’s traditional territory the festival takes place on.

 

We had a ridiculously fun time. The kids were eager to dress up with their jingly skirts, fake nose rings, beautifully crafted headbands that looked like veiled hats, henna, bindis and face paint. Often with all this bling at the same time.

There were crafts to make like puppets and tie dyed t shirts. There were glowsticks and “meat on a stick” to beg for every few minutes. Speaking of food, damn, it was good. Having my dad visit until the day before we left for the festival meant that I opted to buy some of our meals over the weekend. Yam and fennel quesadillas with quick sautéed kale side salads, local made hot dogs, smokies and hamburgers, fresh cut chips, halibut tacos…

Without a doubt, and even considering the outstanding food choices and incredible music, the best part of the weekend was the people. Big and little. Friends. Community. It doesn’t get better than that.

At the end of it all, what I realised was that it would be even more fun with Cam along. I didn’t get to enjoy the music as much as I would have liked, especially at night because of being a ‘one man show’ with the kids. Well, not completely. Lily was able to go off with the small group of kids that would occasionally roam together and Leif was so much less shy this year. He actually enjoyed leaving my side and running around with the other kids.

We’d left Cam at our cabin where he weed-eated and finished working on the new outhouse. It all started with a wind storm blowing down a huge spruce tree about 10 years ago. We dragged it from the bush where it sat and dried and the project was then worked on as time allowed.

I live in a beautiful place.