July Must-See: Vancouver Island MusicFest
By: Ryan Stuart

The hottest ticket on Vancouver Island this summer is the 17th annual Vancouver Island MusicFest. Not because tickets are hard to get – you can buy them at the gate or any Thrifty Foods even during the weekend concert – but because it's the biggest event on Vancouver Island every summer.

With more than 50 acts performing on six stages over three days, July 8 to 10, more than just hard core music lovers will enjoy themselves.
The venue is the Courtenay Fairgrounds and the stages are spread throughout the pastures, buildings and even in the forest. The talent ranges from jazz to hip hop with a definite focus on grassroots style strumming, headlined by rock icon David Crosby, Holly Cole's sweet jazz and the lively beats of Arrested Development.

The festival is busy, so strategy pays off. If you don't want to miss a thing, camp on site.
Otherwise grab a campsite at nearby Puntledge campground or stay at one of the many hotels in nearby Courtenay. Bring your bikes so you can avoid trying to find parking or park at one of the two shuttle locations and catch the $2 bus. It's worth it. Pack a lunch, snacks, tons of water and some camp chairs. (There are food vendors and shops onsite, but they tend to be pricey.) When you arrive reserve your place in the grass at the main stage with a blanket - this will come in handy later. Then go exploring.

While the main attractions play the main stage, the concerts to catch are the jam sessions and closet stars at the smaller stages. These are often the highlight of the festival, so check the schedule and tap some local music knowledge to find hidden gems.

The whole event is family focused. The Tsolum River runs right past the grounds. On hot days its banks are packed with music lovers. For younger kids the Kidzone is the place to be with supervised craft activities, stilt walking, costumes, sprinklers, juggling and face painting. It's open 10 to 6.Between sets return to your blanket and have a nap under the sun or do some people watching, another highlight of the weekend. There are also plenty of boots full of crafts and funky clothing to browse.

By 6 all the smaller stages shut down and the focus turns to the Concert Bowl main stage area. Here's where your earlier set up comes in handy with prime seats for each day's highlight acts. Sit back and nod your head or stand up and dance till the music ends near midnight. Then get up and do it all again the next day: the music starts at 10.