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Cowichan Valley’s Sunfest moving to 172-acre ranch

Organizers of the Sunfest Country Music Festival will be moving their hugely popular Cowichan Valley event to a new location this year. The Cowichan Valley Regional District voted Wednesday in favour of the move.
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Carrie Underwood is expected to draw massive crowds to Sunfest 2016.

Organizers of the Sunfest Country Music Festival will be moving their hugely popular Cowichan Valley event to a new location this year.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District voted Wednesday in favour of the move. The four-day festival will be held at Laketown Ranch, a privately owned, 172-acre parcel of land near Lake Cowichan. Previous editions, including last year’s event, which drew 40,000 fans, were held at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds.

Duncan-based Wideglide Entertainment, which produces the festival, is expected to announce more detailed plans on Feb. 1, said Emmalee Brunt, the festival’s marketing manager. Country stars Carrie Underwood and Dierks Bentley are expected to draw massive crowds to Laketown Ranch on July 28-31.

The festival site will need a considerable amount of construction to be festival-ready. Allocations are expected to be made for on-site parking, camping and seating, in addition to the construction of an amphitheatre-style concert bowl.

Organizers will work closely with the District of North Cowichan on a traffic plan, Brunt said in a statement.

“Laketown Ranch will serve as a permanent festival and event site, and that’s something to get excited about.”

Previously purchased tickets and camping passes for the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds will be honoured.

For information, visit sunfestconcerts.com.

Sunfest map