Friday nights concert in the Harrison Lake Plaza featured the very best in fiery Rumba Flamenco Latin guitar courtesy of John Gilliat.  Other renowned artists such as Trinitude, Redgy Blackout, Jasper Sloan Yip and Joe Given shared their varied musical talents all along the beach both Saturday and Sunday.   The Memorial Hall’s craft market showcased the elite in handmade BC crafts and the artisan demonstrations were a definate must see.  Today the Festival continues with local Sasquatch researchers, Bill and Thomas, sharing their wealth of knowledge from 11:30 pm to 1:30 pm in the Harrison Lake Plaza. 

Despite the overcast weather, this years Kids Festival at Kilby Historic Site was great fun for both the young and young at heart.  With nine craft stations, croquette, stilt walking, face painting and children’s entertainer Rosie Ribbon Star there was ample of activities to take part in.  Of course, the always friendly farm animals welcomed the crowds and the local Agassiz Fire Department and RCMP brought out their emergence vehicles for clamouring and exploring on.  The smash ‘hit’ (pun totally intended) of the day was the two pinata parties for the little kids and the not so little kids.

This past Monday, Aug 09 the waters opened for Sockeye Salmon.  Fishing enthusiasts of all ages and ability are flocking to the Fraser River in hopes of reiling in their very own prize catch. 

Saturdays Garlic Festival at Limbert Mountain Farms was a delectable success with more than 700 people in attendance and all the garlic in sight sold out by days end.  Those foodie folk looking for more farm country fun can get their fill at this weekends Slow Food Vancouver’s Summer Cycle Tours in Agassiz on the 21st and Chilliwack the 22nd.  Registration can be done on-line at Slow Food Vancouver’s website or on-site in both communities.

The smell of garlic is already on the air while the various foodie folk and garlic producers set up for the free annual Garlic Festival at Limbert Mountain Farms.  This year Limbert has partnered with Edible Vancouver to bring you a bigger and better festival including introductions to the wide variety of garlic grown on site, must have recipes, delicious samples and info on how to grow your very own garlic.  The festivities kick off at 11am and run till 5pm with the Limbert country kitchen serving ‘everything garlic’ from noon to 4pm.

The 9th annual Harrison Lake Poker Run will hit the water running Friday Aug 6th to the 8th.  This years theme is SEVEN.  With the run falling on Aug 7th and seven being a lucky number it seemed the appropriately ’winning’ choice.  The largest poker run in Western Canada, this event is as much fun for on-lookers as it is for participants.  Those interested in gawking at some of the high perfomance boats taking part in the run can do so Friday from noon to 7pm along the village waterfront. 

Today marks the beginning of the 3rd annual Paddlewheeler event on Harrison Lake.  Passenger’s travel along the same route that 1000’s of gold miners took in 1858.  The first leg of the journey set sail this morning in New Westminster and then travelled onto Mission via the mighty Fraser River.  The second leg departs from Mission tomorrow morning and continues onto Harrison Lake in the early evening.  Aug 04 & 05 the MV Native will be touring passengers along Harrison lake on a Mystery Cruise.  The return trip from Harrison to New Westminster departing Aug 06 is sold out but you may be able to get on board in Mission or the Mystery Cruise.

Several of the accommodation properties in Harrison are providing fantastic value for families this summer as they have teamed up with local attractions.  Check out these links:

Harrison Hot Springs Resort: http://www.harrisonresort.com/VacationPackages_GetWet.aspx

Harrison Beach Hotel: http://harrisonbeachhotel.com/main/?en&Family

Harrison Executive Hotel: http://www.harrisonhotsprings.com/default/index.php?pageType=hotdeals

The closing weekend for the Harrison Festival offered more great Art Market finds, informative workshops and fantastic beach stage music.  Some outdoor performance highlights were Annabelle Chvostek’s catchy tune ’I Left My Brian’, Ryan LeBlanc effortlessly playing a guitar, harmonica & box drum all at the same time and North to Canda’s all star Gospel & Blues ensemble including Diana Braithwaite, Chris Whiteley, Leon Bibb, Kenny Wayne, Donald Ray Johnson & Russell Jackson.

The Hall concerts continued to deliver exceptional musicianship and contagious energy.  Friday nights performance by Spanish band El Puchero del Hortelano offered a fun mix of Flamenco and Rumba with Funk, Pop and Rock.  Mary Jane Lamond’s Saturday performance had the audience completely wrapped with her spell binding vocals and Gaelic melodies.  Sundays performance with award winning harmonica player Carlos Del  Junco was an excellent close to the Festival.  His ‘overblow’ technique paired with a mix of Blues, Jazz and Latin had the whole house shaking with rock concert amplification.  

Overall, this years Festival was a huge success both artisticly and financially - the latter of the two being all the more important with continued cuts to provincial and federal arts funding.  Missed out on the 2010 line-up, no worries - the Festival will be back again next year from July 8th to the 17th.

As the Festival moved into mid week the sold out performances kept on coming.  Wednesday and Thursday saw packed houses for both the ‘eclectic’ David Lindley and Scotland’s Peatbog Faeries.  Lindley’s acoustic performance offered the very best in American blues and his demented sense of humour delightfully coloured his many in between song stories.  The Faeries had the dance floor hoppin’ and shoutin’ the whole concert with their unique mix of Rock, Electronica and Folk sounds.  The audience simply lapped up their contagious energy and celtic arrangements played on the bagpipes, fiddles and whistles. 

Wednesdays warm sunny weather made for yet another successful Children’s Day.  Children of all ages happily took part in the many arts & crafts and outdoor activities taking place in and around the Memorial Hall.  Performances by tightwire walker Flyin’ Bob and comic daredevil Checkerboard Guy were huge fun for both kids and adults.