Festival at the Edge of the Earth

On August 7th, the first weekend of our arrival on Haida Gwaii we attended the Festival at the Edge of the Earth ....No Kidding that is the real name of the festival here in Haida Gwaii. I must say I'm really charmed! It is nothing like Stanfest (apples and oranges ) I like them both and for different reasons.
To begin with this festival is very small and more up close and personal. The focus is on a family event and kids and parents of all ages mingled throughout the weekend.

The following entry will be about the festival goers and the Life around the festival as opposed to the entertainers ...which I will get to later . Above is Jim and our grandson Isadore on the first evening.

Because the event is small enough there are outhouses instead of port-a-potties ....thus we see !a competition for the best one and the winner is the one below ...the inside was quite lovely and it was sponsored by a local bakery.

As I mentioned before this is a family festival and the planning for it goes on all year with a lot of folks around the islands, giving input long before the festival weekend. I really got a kick out of this sign on the field .

 The lanterns in the lantern parade which takes place at 10:45 each night were made back in May and June.

There was a dancing area in front of the stage and people of all ages got up and shared the dance as you can see many dressed in carnival like costumes and celebrated creativity and music of the people.

During the day there were play areas for small children where there was a "Tickle Trunk" of costumes and the biggest sandbox along with craft activities for the "tween" set. There was also hula hoops and poi going all day long and after dark the more agile of the performers played with fire as we see below.  I got to try my hand at poi and I'm learning and all black and blue from the whacks I take in the process. (poi are an Indonesian invention I believe ...a ball on the end of a leather cord or in the case of the ones I have they are on a wee chain!)

Fire poi at night

Hoop fun

I want to close by letting all you who are kind enough to take the time to read my blog that I've been spending more time doing these days than reflecting on what I'm doing ...I wish I could say it is because I'm present and living in the moment but at the end of a day filled with a delightful two year old I don't have the will or patience to fight with blogger when it won't do what I feel it should.

Stay tuned I should be getting my stride soon.

Love and light

Chris