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Bowfest is today! Here's everything you need to know

It's time to celebrate all things Bowen!
Slug Races
Slug Races are a classic Bowfest activity. Have you got your speedy gastropod yet? The slug races run between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

What’s this year’s theme?

Farm!

Last year it poured rain, what's this year's forecast?

The weather network is calling for a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 17 degrees celsius and a 20 per cent chance of precipitation.

When does it start?

The day starts with the Rotary Run for Rwanda. The kids’ 1.5 km. run is at 8:30 a.m. while the adults’ 10 km and 5km runs start at 9 a.m. Remember to register by 5 p.m. Friday evening (or really early Saturday morning).

The parade down Trunk Road, from around BICS to around Cardena Drive starts at 10:30 a.m. ish (or whenever the ferry leaves).

The Bowfest schedule.
The Bowfest schedule. - Bowfest Committee

The Bowfest Field gates open at  11 a.m.

Submission for the Country Fair start at 11:15 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m.

The beer garden opens at noon and closes at 9:45 p.m.

Ginger 66 plays at the Bowen Island Pub in the evening.

And so much more (see the photo for the full Bowfest schedule.)

Will there be candy at the parade?

Yes, it just won’t be thrown from the floats. It will be handed out by people on the ground.

How much does it all cost?

Rotary’s Run for Rwanda is $20 for adults, $10 for kids and $50 for a family.

Bowfest is $10 at the gate, $5 if you buy in advance (before 5 p.m. Friday at Phoenix). People under 18 are free.

Ginger 66 at the pub has a $10 cover.

How do I get to and from Bowfest?

Translink has added seven additional trips on the Bluewater route Saturday. The last bus leaves the cove at 10:45 p.m. Saturday evening. See the schedule here. The 281 Eagle Cliff and 282 Mt. Gardner routes will be on the regular Saturday schedule.

Don’t forget the two TapRide buses that run between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday with flexible pick-up and drop-off locations (reserve online or in-app.)

What will there be at Bowfest?

The community booths including:

  • Bowen Island-Nexwlelexwem Marine Atlas crew (see what they’ve been up to and a first draft).
  • The Bowen Island Health Centre Foundation
  • Nature Club
  • The Bowen Island Emergency Support Service
  • The Bowen Island Transportation Advisory Committee
  • Bowen Island Trail Society
  • Camp Bowen Society
  • The Cape on Bowen
  • The Real Rapunzel
  • The People’s Party of Canada
  • The Green Party
The Bowfest map.
The Bowfest map. - Bowfest Committee

Country Fair competitions (Free to enter for youth and adults)

  • Classic slug race (bring a well-treated live slug in a container to the race track. You may bring a bribe to place at the end of the track but no water spray bottles and no snails.)
  • Biggest (heaviest) zucchini
  • Best photo of a bee
  • Best photo of a slug
  • Tallest flower grown on Bowen (bring in the flower, or a photo with a tape measure in the photo)
  • Best cookie baked on Bowen (please include a list of ingredients)
  • Contests for just youth include:

  • Best lego design (you can design anything you want, just make sure you have a writeup talking about the inspiration. If it is too big you can bring in a photo).
  • Stories and photos of your favourite Bowen animal (farm or pet or wild animal, just let us know why)

There’s also a mini farmers’ market sponsored by the Bowen Agricultural Alliance.

Other fun:

  • For the first time, Ocean Wise is bringing over its AquaVan with science staff from its Coastal Ocean Research Institute (CORI). The AquaVan will feature live marine invertebrates, marine artifacts and interactive activities.
  • Pirate bouncy castle
  • Bungee run 3 lane competition
  • Boat building
  • Face painting

Fun in the middle field

  • Climbing wall
  • 9-hole mini-golf
  • archery
  • soccer radar challenge

Playing music

  • Ginalina (main stage 12:15 p.m.)
  • Snug Cove Blues Band (main stage 2:30 p.m.)
  • Zach Brannon Band (main stage 5 p.m.)
  • Adam Woodall Band (main stage 7:30 p.m.)
  • Earl Jenkins  (beer garden stage (1:45 p.m.)
  • Dan Cowan (beer garden stage 4:15 p.m.)
  • Amber Spitkovski (beer garden stage 6:30 p.m.)

Main stage presentations and competitions:

  • Bowen Island Gymnastics (1:10 p.m.)
  • Kelly Konno Dance Studio (1:20 p.m.)
  • Lip Synch Contest (1:30 p.m.)
  • Silly Walk Contest & Floss-Off (3:45 p.m.)

Do they still need volunteers?

Yes!

Register here: https://slotted.co/fxmp7nos?fbclid=IwAR0h0QYxH-d-xA-KhYqvA50gfor3hnAFyIpSWi07G3XQVv6bV3l8Q1IYvmU

What does Bowfest look like?

Well this is what it looked like in 1976:

And this is what it looked like in 2018:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Carnival Bowfest parade 2018 was rainy but a great bunch of fun! #beautifulbowen #bowfest2018

A post shared by Bowen Island Undercurrent (@bowenislandundercurrent) on

See you there!