Quest University鈥檚 best kept secret is set for its biggest year ever.
The 2015 Dancing Bear Music Festival returns on Saturday (April 18), and event organizers are promising the best experience in the seven-year history of the event.
James Blumhagen, one of the organizers and a Quest student, said Dancing Bear is growing beyond just a music festival.
鈥淥verall there is going to be more of a festival atmosphere this year,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want this to be not just a music festival but also an arts and culture festival.鈥�
To that end, organizers have expanded the size of the festival ground and have invited vendors from Squamish to set up shop.
But Dancing Bear鈥檚 appeal lies in its music, and Blumhagen said this year the lineup is deep.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all really excited about quite a few of them,鈥� he said.
鈥淪tudents went crazy for Jaguar last year, and we鈥檙e so glad they鈥檙e back. We鈥檝e also got Juno Award-nominated The Pack AD, Atlanta hip hop artist Chester Watson and The Tourist Company 鈥� who finished in the top three for the Peak Performance contest.鈥�
The event also regularly showcases bands comprised of Quest students and 2015 is no different with Little Birds, The Cherry Potatoes, The OH Season and The Bone Frets performing in front of their peers.
Blumhagen said Dancing Bear helps signal the end of the school year for Quest students and is the biggest event of the year on campus.鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 like spending time in the sun listening to amazing live performances?鈥� he asked. 鈥淲e all look forward to it, and you don鈥檛 even have to advertise it on campus 鈥� everyone is going.鈥�
He said working on the organizing committee has been fun but also time-consuming.鈥淔rom the moment it ends, there is excitement for the next year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 started a few contests with the radio station [Quest Coast Sound Radio] last year and I wanted to see what it鈥檚 like to help organize it. It鈥檚 been way more work than I ever anticipated.鈥�
But the festival is not just for Quest students.
Blumhagen pointed out that kids 10 and under can attend for free and that the school wants to see Squamish residents check out what the festival has to offer. 鈥淲e wanted to make sure that this year it鈥檚 a better connector for Squamish and Quest,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e really want Squamish-ites to come up to the festival and enjoy it with us.鈥�
Kids can keep busy at the event with face painting, kiddie pools to play in, vendors from the Squamish Farmers鈥� Market and many other activities.
Tickets for the festival can be purchased online. For details, visit www.dancingbear.bpt.me.
