Are you ready for Cowichan’s biggest event of the year?
Tickets ordered? Yup! Cowboy hat and boots at the ready? You betcha!
Then let the good times roll. Sunfest is back for another festival of country music and fun at Laketown Ranch at Lake Cowichan between Aug. 3-6.
Toby Keith and Little Big Town are the showcase names Saturday and Sunday nights but the whole menu boasts star power.
And there are all kinds of activities range from campsite decorating, sharing a burger and beer (or two) with friends, or if you’re lucky, with one of the performers, checking out the vendors, dancing, filling your phone with selfies, whooshing along the zipline, making a lot of happy noise, and overall, having a ton of fun.
Sunfest weekend starts Thursday with Washboard Union and Old Dominion leading the charge.
Friday night, it’s time to get close to the stage for Corb Lund, Brett Kissell, and Chris Janson.
On Saturday, Waterloo Revival and Tim Hicks will warm up an expected huge crowd for Keith’s show.
Finally, on Sunday, you’ll hear sultry Madeline Merlo and Bobby Wills before the final big act.
But those are not by any means, all the performers you can see, hear, and enjoy at Sunfest this year.
On the main stage Thursday, starting at 5 p.m. look for Kristin Bunyan, followed by The Matinee at 6:20 p.m., Washboard Union (7:50 p.m.) and finally, Old Dominion (9:50 p.m.).
Friday, the main stage acts include Dylan Jakobsen ( 5 p.m.), Corb Lund (6:20 p.m.), Chris Janson (7:50 p.m.) and Brett Kissel (9:50 p.m.).
On Saturday, Shylo Sharity will open the main stage shows at 5 p.m. followed by Waterloo Revival (6:20 p.m.), Tim Hicks (7:50 p.m.) and Toby Keith (9:50 p.m.).
Winding up the festival on Sunday, the magic on the main stage starts with Dirty Mountain (5 p.m.), Madeline Merlo (6:20 p.m.), Bobby Wills (7:50 p.m.), and Little Big Town (9:50 p.m.).
One of the hottest places to enjoy it all is right up front, of course.
The VIP ticket area is also very special, offering side-stage and backstage access, and the chance to encounter a star.
But the view and do action is great all over the Sunfest site. Last year, a large group climbed up the hillside off to one side and lounged in the evening sun while listening to the action on the main stage.
Sunfest’s own wrap of 2016
There are vendors, services, and activities all around the site.
Up near the parking lot is a frontier village lined with vendors. This is the area known as The Flats, and it has its own stage.
During the festival, you can enjoy music poker, and line dancing at the Flats Stage early in the day, and later on there’s Lindsay Elzinga, Kristin Bunyan, Jaimey Hamilton, Four Chords of Wood, April Reign, Lance Lapointe, and Whiskey River.
On the Saloon Stage, up at the back of the site, shows are scheduled to fill in the spaces between the main stage performances.
You can enjoy Nicole Sumerlyn, The Bandits, Arbutus Roots, The Dungarees, Dave Hartney, Tan and Hide, Ben Klick, The Tumblin’ Dice, Whitford Bronco, Rollin’ Trainwreck, and Country Line.
Shine up those boots. Let the good times roll.
