It will be all about this planet and its precious bounty when the Back to Earth Community Harvest Festival returns for a second year this week.
Set in Lavington Park with its lush green grass, surrounded by rolling hills and mountains, the community-spirited family event, slated for Friday and Saturday, has been spearheaded by Coldstream’s Back to Earth Enviro Products.
“The festival is a celebration of the arts, the Earth, the plants, and the people,” said Back to Earth proprietor Kiley Routley, who with her mom, Kath Raeber, artistic director of the not-for-profit North Okanagan Music Festival Society, are hosts of the event.
Raeber, who directed the former Rarearth Music Festival in Vernon and is also creator/organizer of the annual Our Kids Have Talent contest, has lined up a diverse group of local, regional and one international entertainer to perform throughout the two days.
“Diversity is the word that best describes the music. We have everything from country to jazz to rock and everything in between — a little something for everyone,” said Raeber, adding, “part of the society’s mandate is to promote the talents of youth and 2013 winners of Our Kids Have Talent will be performing on both days.”
Our Kids finalists Chantelle Betuzzi, Eli Garlick and Hana Friedman, and Megan Lauridsen are performing on Friday night just before the Kinshira Fire Troupe and the Okanagan’s legendary rock act The Young’uns.
Local singer-songwriter Kian Water and Salmon Arm recording artist Aimee Laws are also on Friday’s schedule.
Saturday includes Our Kids’ Olivia Penalva and the talent show’s first- place winner, country gentleman Jesse Mast, along with the release of Bobby Kovacs’ 100 Doves, the Earth Sisters, the Ananda Dancers, Betty Anne Northup, the Desert Moon Dancers, Feet First, Silva, The Window Shakers, Sabrina Weeks and Mike Hilliard, Kath and the Tomkats, and headliner, The Jo Burt Experience, led by the legendary guitarist coming from the U.K.
There’s also fun for the young ones in the KidZone with Kiki the Eco Elf, Alba Healing Arts, Yoga for Kidz with Dawn Sharman, family line dancing with Tony Evans, Mr. Barrel of Fun, face painting, Coolios’ Sparkle Tattoos, a bouncy castle, tons of games, plus a pool and playground on site.
The festival also features local artisans, multicultural food vendors, beverage gardens, and the Lavington Fire Hall (across from the park) is offering a pancake breakfast by donation on Saturday morning.
Free energy healing workshops will also take place throughout the weekend.
Workshops include Health in Motion Feldenkrais with Carie Bicchieri, 10 Essential Herbs with Lucas Schroeder, Heal with Sheila Snow, Harry’s Honey 101 with Harry Priest, and Drumming for the Earth with Robin Genthon. Those wishing to attend any of the workshops can sign up in advance by calling 250-550-6789.
With a main focus to give back, entrance to the festival is by donation and a non-perishable food bank item.
“We gave a ton of food to the food bank last year, and with over 1,000 people in attendance, that’s a lot of food,” said Routley.
The Back to Earth Community Harvest Festival takes place at Lavington Park Friday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. As of press time, there was still room for a few more artisans. Contact kath@okmusicevents.com for more information.
