Day 2 of Filberg Festival 2022 had something for everyone

By Keith and Heather Nicol

    After a great but hot day at the Filberg Festival on Friday, July 29 we decided to get there even earlier on Saturday.  There was a whole new lineup of musicians on 2 stages plus close to 140 artisans showing their varied and unique wares.  On Friday,  July 29 Comox broke its daytime high temperature record and with the humidity it felt even hotter (37 C).  But if there is a site in the Comox Valley where you want to be in these warm conditions it was at the shady ocean front Filberg Park in Comox. Also check out Friday’s blog post for several tips on staying cool at the Festival. 

              The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer had the standing room only crowd and dancing in the aisles

 Although it might seem like the Festival is just for adults, the organizers have included lots of things for kids to do in a shady area called the Enchanted Forest. Here they have face painting, lots of games and crafts so don’t leave the little ones at home. Remember kids 12 and under are FREE! Another bonus of this festival is that you don’t need to lug around chairs like you do at many festivals. They have lots of seating and much of it is moveable so if you see empty seats in the sun you can pick them up and move them to a shady spot. And they have water stations around the park so you can stay hydrated in these hotter than normal conditions. 

                                 There is a special area for kids where they can get their faces painted and play games

We arrived just before 11:00 am with a plan to check out the various artisan stalls before listening to the music. We found some great gift items and then headed to the cool ocean front Garden Stage to hear folk singer Claire Coupland from Victoria at 12:30 pm.  After that we wanted to check out the larger Rotary Stage and enjoyed “Myles from Home” and liked his harmonica infused music. After checking out a few more artisans that we hadn’t seen yet we decided to head home and have an early supper before heading back to see the headliners on Saturday evening. 

                                You couldn't ask for a better setting overlooking the ocean and mountains at Filberg Park

We returned at 5:45 pm and headed for the Rotary Stage to hear Sue Medley and Friends. Sue is from Courtenay and we had seen her perform at the Vancouver Island MusicFest a couple of years ago. Next up was The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer from Vancouver which we were really looking forward to seeing. We had heard some of their music on You Tube before we went to the Filberg Festival and since we are fond of  the harmonica we figured they would do a high energy set. And they did not disappoint- they had the standing room only crowd up and dancing in the aisles. They are great, fun performers and you can’t help but move your feet to their music. 

               We loved the paintings of the Round Woman Studio- many reminded us of the folk art of the East Coast

And there is lots more music to be played at the Filberg Festival . You still have Sunday, July 31to come and check it out. Also it is a great place to get that unique or special gift. With so many varied exhibitors there is something for just about everyone. And Remember the Filberg Festival is a valuable fundraiser for the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox, B.C. For more information on the complete festival schedule see: filbergfestival.com  See you there tomorrow.

 

The Filberg Festival in Comox is back and better than ever

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

      Like many festivals, the Filberg Festival has been affected by the global pandemic for the past 2 years but in 2022 it is back and from our observations on the first day it is better than ever. The Filberg Festival is a huge fundraiser for the Filberg Lodge and Park which has a spectacular location in Comox. This year they have over 100 artisans showing their wares plus over 45 musicians performing at 2 stages. What a great combination! The idea is you check out some of the remarkable work by potters, photographers, painters, jewelry, glass, textile and wood workers and then take in some music. When you get hungry you can buy some speciality food from some artisans or head for the food trucks. So the routine is shop, listen, eat and enjoy !

        There are lots of vendors showing their wares on the shady grounds of Filberg Park

The biggest challenge this year is staying cool with record setting temperatures roasting Vancouver Island for the past several days. So we will pass along some tips based on our first day attending. Get there early. Not only will parking be easier to find but it will be cooler. Secondly, bring plenty of water so you don’t get dehydrated. Thirdly, dress with light shorts and shirts and bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.  We also brought small foam pads so we could sit on the grass or a low rock wall in the shade if the seats were all taken.  

               Robin (right) showing some of his unique seaweed art - he is based in Victoria

 On Friday, July 29 we opted to listen to music at the shady waterfront Garden Stage which some musicians said must be the best stage to sing at in B.C. ! There was a little breeze off the water and with the shade - it made the 29 C (feels like 35 C) weather quite manageable. We caught Ella Korth from Vancouver and we loved her varied music.  We particularly liked her Irish ballad played on the banjo. Since we were so comfortable we stayed to listen to Brodie Dawson who ended up having to borrow Ella’s guitar at the last minute. Brodie lives in the Comox Valley and her group put on a varied set that could highlight each performer. Christy Vanden was next up at the Garden Stage and rounded out our very enjoyable time on Friday at the Festival.

                  Ella Korth opened the Garden Stage on Friday to a standing room only crowd

But there is lots more music to be played at the Filberg Festival . You still have Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 to come and check it out. Gates open at 11 am and runs until 8:00 pm on Saturday and 6:00 pm on Sunday. Also it is a great place to get that unique or special gift. With so many varied exhibitors there is something for just about everyone. And Remember the Filberg Festival is a valuable fundraiser for the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park in Comox, B.C. For more information on the complete festival schedule see: filbergfestival.com  See you there tomorrow. 

                                   Brodie Dawson and her band were a hit at the Garden Stage

  

 

Mulligans Golf Course makes golf affordable in the Comox Valley

 by Keith and Heather Nicol 

 Golf is popular in the Comox Valley with many courses to test your skills but if you want to try a fine little course that allows you to still play 9 holes for just $18 or less then check out Mulligans Golf Course. With inflation running at the highest rates in a generation everyone wants to get real value for the money so if you golf in the Comox Valley you need to know about Mulligans. With 9 holes ranging in price from just $14 for 9 holes from 5:00 pm  to sunset, and $16 from 2:30 pm -4:50 pm and $18 from 7 am to 2:20 pm you can get in lots of golf for your hard earned money.   

                       Keith teeing off on the second hole- the Beaufort Range in the background

When we spoke to Laurie, the Mulligan’s manager she told us that they welcome every one and she mentioned that they are popular with families and others who are just starting out since we have a fairly forgiving course. They offer an executive course which means there are mostly par 3’s with some par 4’s and the longest hole is 337 yards. Total length from the blue tees is 1763 yards which is about a mile so it is also easy to walk for many people from younger children to older adults. But just because it is short doesn’t mean it is easy. There is water on 7 of the 9 holes and there are many strategically placed sand traps, so depending on where the pin is placed, making par can be a real challenge. The course also gives scenic views of the Beaufort Range of Mountains and has been landscaped to create undulations and mounds which add to the layout of the course. Given the wetter and cooler than normal conditions this summer the course is nice is green for the most part and the greens are in fine shape. 

The greens were in great shape

 In addition to a small clubhouse with an outdoor patio , there is a driving range, a putting green and a sand trap practice area where I need to spend more time. The driving range is another bargain since a bucket of balls is just $3.75 ! We played most recently on Sunday morning July 24 and it took us just over 2 hours to play 9 holes. It was definitely more crowded than normal and a marshall told us that Sundays this season are the busiest. Mulligans is located right outside of Courtenay and for more information see: http://mulligansgolfcourse.com/  or phone 250-338-2440. This course is ideal for families or friends wanting to meet for a couple of hours of enjoyable golf. See you on the course.

 

 

 

The Rose Garden in Stanley Park in Vancouver is in full bloom

 By Keith and Heather Nicol

On our visits to Vancouver if we head to Stanley Park it is usually to cycle around the seawall which goes around the perimeter of the park. We rarely head to the interior of the park but on our last visit to Vancouver in mid July 2022 we decided to see the Rose Garden and the surrounding trails in the interior of the park since we suspected the roses might be in their prime. We were joined by our daughter Kristie and who suggested this visit to the garden which was established in 1920 by the Kiwanis Club. The garden boasts over 3500 rose bushes and is set it an open area surrounded by natural west coast forest.  Our timing was good since the roses were in full bloom but note that this year they are quite late due to the cool spring. For more info see: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/gardens-in-stanley-park.aspx