Countdown to the Pemberton Festival!

The recent explosion of sunny weather has people waiting in anticipation of the summer’s biggest event. The Pemberton Music festival’s three-day outdoor concert showcasing such headliners in the music industry as Coldplay, Jay-Z and Tom Petty are gearing up to play from July 25 to 27.

The number of music fans expected to attend is 40,000, drawing people in from Canada, the US and Europe.  Quite a number for a quiet farm community with a population of just over 2000. Event promoter Shane Bourbonnais of Live Nation commented “It’s very dramatic (with Mount Currie in the background), the scenery is beautiful, the community has been from day one very supportive, and played a really great role and that’s been a great thing”.

Modeled after multi-day music festivals in Europe, this concert could become an annual event.  There are very few examples of other similar festivals in North America.

The organizers are focused on logistics and eco-friendly planning. The traffic feasibility study completed in September 2007 led to approved of the traffic management plan by the Ministry of Transportation. Other agencies to approve the festival include the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, RCMP, Squamish Lillooet Regional District and regional tourism agencies.

Carpooling is encouraged, the parking area is separate from ‘tent city’ and hydro-electric power is the main source of energy fueling the concert stages. Whistler is the official water sponsor, so there is bound to be a healthy supply.

Cost has not been a factor as early bird tickets are sold out. Three-day event passes are still available for $259.00. Daily parking passes go for $149.50 and camping fees are $90 for a three-day pass.