The Tall Tree Music Festival is coming back to Port Renfrew for its third year, and economic benefits are expected to follow.
The event is not-for-profit, and proceeds after expenses will be given to the Ancient Forest Alliance for the boardwalk in Avatar Grove, Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce and Port Renfrew recreation centre. In addition to proceeds, each of the organizations received tickets to sell for their own profit.
The summer music festival will also bring a huge economic spin off for the small town of less than 200 residents.
“It’s huge for Port Renfrew,” said Rosie Betsworth, Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce president. “Accommodations fill up, and restaurants overflow.”
“It just puts Port Renfrew on the map,” she said.
According to Mike Roma, media representative for Radio Contact, financial benefits to the community are part of the goal.
“Everybody that’s a part of this really likes Port Renfrew and we feel that if we’re going to be growing that they should be benefiting as we grow.”
The line up features over 65 artists and performers — 85 per cent of which hail from Victoria and some from Salt Spring Island. The remaining 15 per cent of performers are coming from across Canada and U.S.
The idea behind the Tall Tree Music Festival and it’s winter sister event, the Song and Surf, is to encourage younger generations from Victoria to explore Port Renfrew.
Roma said music and culture would serve as the initial draw to Port Renfrew, but he added, “once they get out there they would realize how beautiful it is.”
He said the Tall Tree Music Festival was arranged so that it would grow slowly, with the first year capping off ticket sales at 500, the following at 750 and this year at 1,500.
Roma said 1,500 tickets for this year’s event was determined a manageable number by staff and local law enforcement.
So far, Roma deems the event a success.
“The greatest achievement of the festival is the quality of people it brings out,” he said. “We’ve been really fortunate, bringing out only nice and good people.”
The event will take place from June 21-24 at Brown’s Mountain in Port Renfrew. The event is 19+ and two pieces of government I.D. will be required to enter.
Drinking and driving and “negative energy” will not be tolerated.
Tickets are available at Coastline or online at the Royal & McPherson Theatres Society: http://www.rmts.bc.ca/
