Patricia Symes could have retired almost anywhere but the Calgary dentist chose the Comox Valley, in part because of a festival that she fell in love with 10 years ago.
“I was hooked after the first year,” the 62-year-old said of the Filberg Festival, which runs from Friday, Aug. 1 to the evening of Monday, Aug. 4. “I love the setting, the atmosphere and that it’s a fundraiser for a great community asset.”
The Filberg, as locals call it, gathers artisans, musicians and food vendors in a nine-acre waterfront park near downtown Comox. The $15 entry fee – it hasn’t been raised in years and is kept relatively low to keep the festival accessible – goes to the non-profit society that maintains the Filberg Lodge, teahouse and outbuildings on the property.
Symes first came to Comox after WestJet started a direct Calgary-Comox flight in 2001. She just happened on the Filberg the first year but it — and golf — soon drew her back.
“I do all my Christmas shopping there,” said Symes, who moved to Comox full-time two years ago.
The Filberg is the largest juried outdoor festival in Canada, and is now in its 32nd year. It’s not unusual for 20,000 people to attend over the four-days, yet it rarely feels jammed. Families make a day of it, spreading out picnics on the grass, listening to live music, feeding donkeys and goats at the small petting farm.
The crowd enjoys one of the many musical performers.
It’s the kind of community event logging magnate Robert Filberg, the former president of Comox Logging Company, and his wife Florence might have envisioned when they gave the family’s longtime property to the Vancouver Foundation. It was later taken over by the Town of Comox.
The couple commissioned the lodge and surrounding buildings in 1929, shortly before the Wall Street Crash. William Haggarty was in charge of constructing the arts and crafts style, five-bedroom, five-fireplace lodge. It took six years to build, and some say the Filbergs stretched out the building process to keep men employed during the Great Depression.
It became a public facility after Robert — known as Bob — died in 1977. The intent was that it be open to the public and used for community events.
Now, it hosts concerts, graduations and weddings. It’s also open daily from dawn to dusk, there to provide a nature sanctuary for anyone who walks in. The Filbergs planted 130 varieties of trees from around the world, along with hundreds of rhododendrons.
Couple that with the waterfront location — the stunning Comox Glacier is to the southwest with the Beaufort mountain range to the south, and eagles soar by as if on command — and it’s easy to see why artisans compete to get a place in the festival.
As many as 20,000 people attend the Filberg each year.
About 225 artisans applied this year for the 134 spots. A blind jury of 10 people makes the selections. Artists come from across Canada. creating everything from ceramics and textiles, to wood and visual arts. As well, there are 19 food vendors providing tastes from all over the world.
Organizer Susan Lewis says they try to have 25 per cent of the artisans change each year.
“The Filberg is established but we change it enough that we keep it fresh. “
Keeping a long-established event successful means being willing to try new things, Lewis said.
For example, the festival has changed its music focus this year. Previously, the entertainment tilted more to the blues, she said. This year, musicians from a variety of genres, including blues, will be on stage.
Highlights include Royal Wood, Shari Ulrich, Sue Medley, Tiller’s Folly, David Gogo, Jesse Peters, Eric Harper and Ken Lavigne, as well as numerous children’s entertainers.
Most will be using the new stage, built by 20 members of CFB Comox’s 191 Construction Engineering Flight crew. The group of carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other trades volunteered to build the stage, which was funded by community groups.
“Anytime the members of 191 Construction Engineering Flight can build something that maintains their skills and serves to benefit our community, it’s a win-win,” said 191 CEF flight commander, Lieut. Teslin Bruhn.
For more information, including the entertainment schedule, please see: http://filbergfestival.com/
ADDRESS: 61 Filberg Rd.
TICKETS: Advance tickets can be bought online until Thursday at: https://tickets.filbergfestival.com/ and in person at all Vancouver Island Thrifty Foods locations, including Saltspring Island; Arizona Gifts in the Comox Centre Mall; I-HOS Gallery and at the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre.
From Aug. 1 - 4, tickets can only be purchased at the gate.
A daily ticket is $13 in advance and $15 on the day. A four-day pass is $40.
HOURS: Friday – Sunday: 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.; Monday: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
PARKING: Is at a premium as the location is in a largely residential area. Drivers are encouraged to take advantage of the park and ride, service from 1475 Noel Ave. The Ambassador Shuttle Service vans will drive you the five minutes to the festival site in air-conditioned comfort.
This year’s volunteer group manning the park and ride is the Vancouver Island Compassion Dog society, a non-profit organization that matches rescue dogs with veterans and others struggling with invisible injuries. http://vicompassiondogs.ca/.
ACCOMMODATION: Several hotels including the Old House Village Hotel and Spa, and the Travelodge Courtenay offer packages combining special room rates with festival passes. For more hotels and bed and breakfasts, see: http://filbergfestival.com/festival-information/accommodations/
Since you're in the neighbourhood . . .
Comox dubs the B.C. Day weekend their “Festival Weekend”.
Other events include:
The I-HOS Night Market on Saturday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. is hosted by the K’ómoks First Nation and offers crafts, culture and hands-on learning at the original village site. (3310 Comox Rd.). The I-HOS Gallery has art from many Vancouver Island First Nations. Traditional salmon, bannock and berry jams will be available. As well, there are artist presentations and workshops on making drums and cedar hats. The Kumugwe Dancers will also perform in the Big House on Sunday. http://ihosgallery.com/
Nautical Days are also on Aug. 2 to 4 at the Comox Marina Park. This too has entertainment, food vendors and artisans and also focuses on the area’s marine history. Nautical games and competitions are highlighted as well as an open water Search and Rescue demonstration and public tours of ORCA class training vessels by HMCS Quadra. For more information, see: http://comoxnauticaldays.ca/
