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There are some things that no summer of mine would be complete without: flip flops, camping trips, BBQs and the Filberg Festival. It’s become an essential part of the hot months since I was a small child.

This year I was fortunate enough to bring my niece with me, though with her abundant energy and non-existent attention span, our time there was limited. After a cuddly visit to the Hands-On Farm, a pink balloon painted on her cheek and a roam of the grounds, she was ready to go.

My mom and I returned the next day, ready for savoury treats and a little bit of spending. My first stop has always been Lemon Heaven. Fresh-squeezed fruit and a little bit of sunshine (I swear) goes into every cup. I’m partial to the cherry lemonade.

Embracing social media, Lemon Heaven is now on Twitter and on Facebook!

Choosing what to eat can always be the most difficult part of visiting the Filberg Festival. Offering up everything from decadent ice cream and sizzling burgers to pad Thai noodles and perogies, my mom and I settled on Greek goodness. My hope for next year is that a vendor will add authentic Mexican food to the mix!

While the Filberg Festival is no doubt the highlight of each year at Filberg Lodge and Park, it’s impossible to ignore what makes this place so special. Shady trees, bushes and shrubs, brightly-blooming flowers and trickling streams are everywhere you turn.

With full tummies and excited anticipation, we spent the remainder of our afternoon wandering from booth to booth. This is is not your grandmother’s craft fair. The Filberg Festival highlights vibrant painters, knitters, jewelers, sculptors, woodworkers and glass-blowers among others. Textile arts have also seen a resurgence in recent years.

While some people visit the Filberg Festival for art and food, others visit it for the non-stop entertainment and music. With two stages and a children’s performance area, there’s no shortage of mega-watt talent. I managed to catch the end of Comox Valley-native Sue Medley‘s acoustic set before making time to rock out with the Russell Jackson Band.

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee and raised in Wichita, Kansas, rhythm and blues are in Russell Jackson’s blood. His knee-clapping, foot-stomping, funked-out set had the audience captivated!

Another exhibitor well worth stopping for is West Coast artist Monk. Her mythical, paint-swept landscapes are earning her international acclaim. Each year at the Filberg Festival, a piece of hers is contributed while attendees can add to it, making it a unique group effort.

Last year‘s Filberg Festival painting was created in memory of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the fallen Georgian luger who tragically lost his life at the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Earlier this summer, Monk traveled to Kumaritashvili’s hometown to present the painting to his family. You can learn more about the painting known as “Nodar’s Spirit” here.

As we continued to make our way through the exhibits, I no doubt had to stop at Saltspring Soapworks. For years this homegrown company has been creating delicious, natural products for the body, hair, skin and even pets!

Lured by the tempting scents of their body gelato scrubs, I indulged in the Rose Provencal and hand therapy lotion (for those long days at the office). Thanks to the body gelato, if my skin could purr, it certainly would.

Reflecting on my photos and remembering the sights and sounds of this year’s Filberg Festival already incites nostalgia. 365 days seems like a long time, but as they say, good lemonade comes to those who wait…

You can see the rest of my photos on my Flickr set.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/6 (I was not paid to write this post but did receive my weekend passes compliments of the Filberg Festival.)

For 29 years, the annual Filberg Festival has drawn art and music enthusiasts from all corners of Vancouver Island and beyond. I remember attending the festival for as far back as my memory goes, spending many BC Day long weekends slurping hand-squeezed lemonade while wandering the grounds of the Filberg Park in steamy sunshine.

Festival goers will once again be treated to arts, crafts, food, music and more from July 29th through to August 1st as the entire Town of Comox is in full celebratory swing. More than 130 artisans will converge at this picturesque park, toting incredible creations ranging from pottery and metal works to jewelry, textiles and specialty food items.

This year’s guest artist is Coral May Barclay whose exceptional oil paintings will be showcased at the historic Filberg Lodge. Barclay is a Northwest coast artist widely acclaimed for her landscape paintings. In addition, Filberg Festival organizers are pleased to pack their stages with the musical stylings of Barney Bentall, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Mae Moore, Lunch At Allen’s and Michael Kaeshammer among others.

New to the Filberg Festival for 2011 is “Sip & Bid” – giving attendees the opportunity to sip offerings from the finest of Vancouver Island’s wineries and breweries while bidding on original artwork by MONK and Marion Webber, travel vouchers and airfare for two with Harbour Air/West Coast Air and accommodation at Fairmont Pacific Rim.

If you’re planning on making the Filberg Festival a part of your BC Day Long Weekend – which you should – here’s what you need to know:

Where: Filberg Lodge & Park, 61 Filberg Road, Comox, BC

When: Friday, July 29th – Monday, August 1st (11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; closing at 6:00 p.m. on August 1st)

How: Very limited street parking is available. Your best bet is to grab a seat on the Park & Ride from Brooklyn Elementary School (1475 Noel Avenue). Ample bicycle parking and lock-up is available on site.

Admission: Advance one-day tickets are available at Thrifty Foods locations for $13. Tickets at the gate are $15 each or $30 for a full weekend pass. Kids 12 and under are FREE!

Filberg Festival organizers would like to kindly remind attendees that pets are not permitted on the Park’s grounds. Count on heat and sunshine so slather on sunscreen, fill up your reusable water bottle and have fun! For more information, visit the Filberg Festival online.

One of my most favourite discoveries in the Parksville-Qualicum Oceanside region is Milner Gardens & Woodland. I visited for the first time two years ago and quickly fell in love with its lush floral beds, marvelous old growth trees and charming tea house.

Photo: Milner Gardens & Woodland

It should come as no surprise that the summer months are some of the most beautiful at Milner. To celebrate this vibrant season in the Gardens, a number of enticing events are planned between now and the time the leaves start to change colour.

Art and Photography in the Garden
July 16-17
Meet, mingle and be inspired as more than 21 artists transform this seaside paradise into a giant makeshift art studio. Painters, sculptors, sketchers and photographers will be displaying their creations while allowing visitors the chance to chat and ask questions. Each artist has donated a piece of art to be auctioned off to benefit the Gardens.

Music in the Garden – Adult Jazz Intensive Ensemble
August 7
Phil Dwyer’s Adult Jazz Intensive Ensemble swings into Milner Gardens with some of BC’s top amateur musicians. Bring your jazz hands.

Music in the Garden – Spectacular Music BC
August 14
Joe Chindamo and Friends present “Improvisatory Fireworks as Jazz Giants Reunite” featuring Joe Chindamo on the accordion, Phil Dwyer saxing it up, Jodi Proznick on bass and Craig Scott on drums.

Music in the Garden – Finale
August 28
As summer days dwindle, join Milner Gardens as they welcome The Nanaimo Tidesmen Barbershop Chorus.

If you aren’t able to make any of these events, be sure to dedicate one day this summer to visit this Oceanside gem. Wander the pathways and make your way to the tea house for English tea and home-baked scones with Devonshire cream and sweet jams made from fruit that grows on Milner’s grounds.

Milner Gardens and Woodland is open to the public 7 days a week 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. all summer long and Thursdays to Sundays for the months of September and October. Find Milner Gardens and Woodland online, connect with them on Facebook or say hello on Twitter.

Some things go hand-in-hand with summertime in the Comox Valley: swimming at Barber’s Hole, slurping ice cream cones on the dock at Comox Harbour and grilling up a storm on the backyard BBQ. You can add “rocking out at the Big Time Out” to that list. For the fifth year, Cumberland Village Works is cooking up a tour de force line-up for their annual music festival.

Quickly becoming known for its eclectic mix of body-moving, soulful and diverse acts, the BTO can certainly be described as legendary. Far more than just music, BTO promises a smörgåsbord of tasty local eats, sideshow performers, roaming dance troupes and a lot of heart-filling fun for everyone.

With each passing year, BTO keeps getting bigger with acts that are hard to beat. Among this year’s scheduled performers you’ll find Juno Award-winning Bedouin Soundclash, Beats Antique, The Boom Booms, Dub FX, Australia’s Kim Churchill, Current Swell out of Victoria, Kuba Oms & the Velvet Revolution, Brasstronaut and a few more surprises. Big Time Out 2011 will not disappoint.

Your fantastic friends at Cumberland Village Works are offering one very lucky Keira-Anne.com reader – and an equally lucky friend – the chance to spend a sun-drenched weekend at BTO with weekend passes*. You’ve got four chances to get in on the action:

1. Leave a comment below and tell me which artist you’d be most excited to see. (2 entries)

2. Post the following on Twitter (1 entry):

I want to spent a music-filled weekend in the sun at Big Time Out thanks to @thevillageworks and @keiraanne! http://tinyurl.com/65ss9m7

3. Visit the Vancouver Island Blog page on Facebook, click on the Contests tab and tell me why you want to check out Big Time Out 2011. (1 entry)

I’ll pick the lucky winner at noon on Friday, July 22nd – good luck!

Where is it? Cumberland Village Park, Cumberland, BC in the beautiful Comox Valley. The park is located at the corner of 6th Street and Dunsmuir Avenue.

When do we party? August 12 and 13, 2011

How much are tickets? Until July 15th you can nab a two-day early bird pass for $85. After that the price goes up to $100; single-day tickets are also available. Buy yours online. Kids 12 and under are FREE!

I want tickets in my hot little hand! You can find tickets at Tarbells and The Waverley (Cumberland), Bop City Records (Courtenay), Lucid (Nanaimo), Music Plant (Campbell River), Green Soul Organics (Tofino), Lyle’s (Victoria) and Highlife Music (Vancouver).

Where can I stay? Campgrounds abound plenty in the Comox Valley, but some on-site camping will be available. Buy your campsite pass online – check out their policies first.

Where am I gonna park my car? Parking in Cumberland is extremely limited. Carpooling with friends is your best bet or grab a ride with Comox Valley Transit. If you decide to drive, don’t block residents’ driveways and be sure to park in designated areas only.

I need more info! Visit Big Time Out 2011 online, find them on Facebook or follow Cumberland Village works on Twitter.

*Passes will be awarded to one winner at random. Passes are non-transferable and have no monetary value. Winner will be responsible for all costs associated with the weekend apart from festival admittance. All photos © Cumberland Village Works.

On my trip to Zihuatanejo, Mexico in April, I had the great pleasure of attending a mucho gran fiesta in a breathtaking villa overlooking Zihuatanejo Bay. Along with the ice cold beer, delicious cultural cuisine and smiling local faces was the musical stylings of Josie Kuhn. Having shared the stage with Steve Earle, the Mavericks and Emmylou Harris, Josie’s soulful stylings have earned her an international fanbase.

Though she spends most of her days in Zihuatanejo, Josie’s bringing her incredible repertoire of music to Vancouver next week. Often compared to a cross between Patsy Cline and Buffy St. Marie, Josie Kuhn rocks the stage with sultry Mexican-inspired tunes, rocking guitar riffs and seductive vocals. Don’t believe me? Check her out on YouTube.

Josie Kuhn will be playing two sets between 8:00 p.m. and midnight at Heritage Grill (447 Columbia St. in New Westminster) [website] on Thursday, July 14th and at 8:00 p.m. at Hop & Vine (1601 Burnswood Drive in Burnaby) [website] on Friday, July 15th. To find out more about Josie Kuhn, visit her official website.

Growing up on Vancouver Island, my virtual backyard wasn’t synonymous with music festivals, but a lot has changed in the last decade or so. The hot summer months call out to music lovers from all points of the globe and draw them to our Island oasis for a number of fantastic festivals.

This summer’s various line-ups, as always, cater to a wide variety of musical preferences. Here’s what you can expect over July and August.

Vancouver Island MusicFest
Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds, Comox Valley – July 8-10, 2011
[website] [Facebook] [Twitter]

One of the Island’s longest running music festivals, the Vancouver Island MusicFest has gained a worldwide reputation for featuring some of the most astounding sounds anywhere. This year’s festival features David Crosby, Arrested Development, Holly Cole and the March Fourth Marching Band. A full roster can be found here. Tickets start at $149 for adults before June 30th.

Photo: hanspetermeyer.ca on Flickr

The Kulth Music Festival
Coombs Rodeo Grounds, Coombs – July 16-17, 2011
[website] [Facebook] [Twitter]

New to the music festival circuit is the Kulth Music Festival taking over Coombs for a weekend in July. The eclectic mix of artists includes Stars, Ron Sexsmith, Current Swell, Memphis and Funk the System. One-day tickets start at $70 online for adults and are also available at a number of shops across the Island and the Lower Mainland.

The Filberg Festival
Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park, Comox – July 29-August 1, 2011
[website] [Facebook]

A staple of my summer, the Filberg Festival features much more than music but has become legendary for filling its concert stages with phenomenal talent. This year’s Filberg Festival includes Barney Bentall, Dustin Bentall Outfit, Mae Moore, Michael Kaeshammer and local favourite Sue Medley. One-day tickets are $15 at the gate or can be purchased in advance for $13 online or at Vancouver Island Thrifty Foods locations.

Big Time Out
Cumberland Village Park, Cumberland – August 12-13, 2011
[website] [Facebook] [Twitter]

One of the hottest places to be in August – in every sense of the word – is the Big Time Out. Each summer it takes the village of Cumberland by storm and brings with it a flurry of music to rock you with. This year’s line-up is still receiving its finishing touches, but already confirmed are Bedouin Soundclash, Brasstronaut, Boom Booms and Beats Antique. Stay tuned for more to be announced in the coming weeks. Two-day early bird passes are a bargain $85, so grab yours quickly!

Photo: © Cumberland Village Works

A few things to remember:

• Most festivals don’t allow pets, so leave Fido at home.
• Summertime is a hot time so bring plenty of water in your reusable bottle and fill up at tap stations.
• Pack some snacks but also take advantage of tasty food vendors that will be available. Take your garbage with you!
• Sunscreen is a must. Wear lots and apply often.
• Camping is abundant so pack a tent and get the scoop on whether or not your preferred music fest has camping spots available – most do!
• Carpooling with friends is a great idea to cut down on congestion and give the environment a hand.
• Most of these events are family-friendly so leave the liquor at home.

Being that I’m coming to you this morning from somewhere along I-5 between Vancouver, BC and Portland, Oregon, mentioning Girls Rock Camp seems only appropriate. Nearly a decade ago, the Portland State University Campus launched a summer camp for female youth aged 8-18 interested in rocking and rolling. Since 2001 it’s turned into a year-round, nation-wide program.

Photo: Girls Rock Camp Vancouver

Aimed at encouraging self esteem in girls and young women, Girls Rock Camp is a non-profit group that teaches music writing, singing and instrument lessons through workshops and hands-on training. The girls are supported as they create, perform and learn while in a social environment that is both nurturing and skill-building.

What started in Portland has now also moved to, among other places, British Columbia with Girls Rock Camp Vancouver. Because the group is a non-profit, they are always looking for community donations and support to keep the initiative rolling – whether through financial support or even instrument donations.

For those in the Portland area, a fundraiser this Sunday, December 12th will be blowing the doors off Mississippi Pizza at 3552 North Mississippi Avenue. It’s an all-ages show by donation with all proceeds to benefit Girls Rock Camp. Visit the Facebook event page for more info.

To stay in the loop with Girls Rock Camp in Vancouver, BC, you can find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

In recent years, music festivals have seemingly and very quickly become a summer staple in British Columbia. The Live at Squamish festival is set to end this summer on a stellar note with two days of incredible music on three stages. The jam-packed roster includes new wave legends Devo, Tokyo Police Club, The Decemberists and the pride of Quadra Island, Mother Mother.

Photo: Nirazilla on Flickr

The fine folks at the JP Scion dealership are offering you, my readers, the chance to win a pair of passes, but you’ve got to act quick. I have two pairs of passes – valid for the entire weekend and valued at $300/pair – to give away to two lucky readers. You have two ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment below and tell me which artist you’d be most thrilled to see live – a full listing of all artists can be found here. (1 entry)

2. Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

RT to win a pair of passes to @LiveatSquamish from @myJPscion and @keiraanne http://bit.ly/cgCqWf

This one-day contest ends at 8 p.m. tonight with the winners to be announced shortly thereafter. Please note that the winners will be required to pick up their passes directly from the JP Scion dealership in North Vancouver.

For 363 days each year, the Village of Cumberland is one of Vancouver Island’s sleepiest towns, its streets dotted with heritage homes, a handful of locally-run shops and a towering brick post office. The other two days of the year, it’s a totally different story…

The Big Time Out has quickly become one of BC’s biggest music festivals that packs a lot of star punch. This year the music festival is returning to its two-day roots, covering the weekend of August 14 and 15, 2010. “We’ve worked hard to create a really special place for artists and music lovers,” enthuses Vig Schulman, the show’s producer. “The word has gotten out among artists, agents and the whole music community that Cumberland is a great place to play, even worth making a big detour from a busy world tour.“

Canada’s beloved indie superheroes Broken Social Scene are headlining this year’s show, bringing their world-class sound to Cumberland on their only Canadian stop this summer before hitting the U.S. tour circuit. Adding some heavyweight star power is Somali-Canadian hip hop artist K’naan, fresh off a World Cup high where his song “Waving Flag” was FIFA’s anthem for the event. Other acts confirmed for The Big Time Out include Winter Gloves, Hannah Georgas, Ohbjou, The Acorn and a ton more!

The Big Time Out will be rockin’ the party at Cumberland Village Park – it’s on one of the Comox Valley’s transit routes, so considering leaving your car at home. Kids 12 and under are free; tickets for us big kids are a steal at $62.50 for each of Saturday and Sunday (or $107.20 for a weekend pass). Tickets can be purchased in a snap online and at various retailers across Vancouver Island. Check the website for more information.

UPDATED: Congratulations to Jillian Mayne! Jillian is the winner of two tickets to The Big Day Up.

With only ten days to go until The Big Day Up, Mount Washington Alpine Resort is gearing up for the biggest party their slopes have ever seen. Saturday, July 17 is bound to be a toasty day under the sun, jam-packed with unbelievable musical talent from across Canada and even one epic band from Down Under.

This inaugural outdoor fiesta of sound is brought to you by Cumberland Village Works, the same brilliant group of people responsible for The Big Time Out and a whole slew of incredible musicians and artists that have passed through the Comox Valley in recent years.

Headlining this show is none other than The Cat Empire, a sensational tour de force from Australia that have amassed an admirable following. Having treated audiences around the globe to their infectious grooves, this multi-member outfit shows no signs of slowing down, driven by a ferocity rarely seen in today’s talent. While it’s next to impossible to definitively describe The Cat Empire’s musical stylings in a word or two, those at The Big Day Up can expect everything from funk, ska, reggae and even a bit of vaudeville.

Also sharing the stage at The Big Day Up are Daniel Wesley, Nine Mile, Sweatshop Union and Aaron Nazrul and the Boom Booms. Multi-Coloured Mischeif, The Naked DJs and Nova Firespun Performing Arts will be on hand to keep the party pumping well into the wee hours, followed by an after party in Mount Washington’s legendary lodge.

Tickets are available for just $62.50 (+ HST) and can be purchased online and at the following locations:

Comox Valley – Bop City Records, Tarbell, Sound Advice, The Waverley
Campbell River – The Music Plant
Nanaimo – Lucid
Tofino – Common Loaf
Port Alberni – Sound Advice
Victoria – Lyle’s Place
Vancouver – Highlife Music

Mount Washington is offering up both camping and RV sites (for this event only) and luxe accommodation in slopeside condos for those wishing to make a night of it. For more information on the event, including how to get there, check out The Big Day Up’s official website.

Ticket Giveaway: The fine folks at Cumberland Village Works are offering up a pair of tickets to The Big Day Up to one lucky reader and winning couldn’t be easier! Simply leave a comment below telling me which artist on the bill you’d be most excited to see or Tweet the following:

I want to party at The Big Day Up thanks to @thevillageworks and @keiraanne! http://bit.ly/daASL6 #TBDU2010

A comment and a Tweet will count for two entries. The contest closes at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14, at which time I’ll draw one winner at random to receive the two tickets. The winner must be able to attend the event at Mount Washington in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. Tickets hold no cash value and are non-transferable. Tickets are valid only for admission and do not include transportation, accommodation, travel expenses, food or beverages.