Despite torrential downpours of rain and soggy conditions the eighth annual Arts Wells Festival was another gargantuan success over the B.C. Day weekend.
Over the four days there were more than 150 musical performances, mini-mural creations, an art walk, four theatre shows, 33 workshops, eight films, crafts for kids, improvised performances all over town, and of course the One-Minute Play Festival. The events took place in both Wells and Barkerville on 10 different stages.
Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo Chilcotin Coast were well-represented at the festival with musicians Jason and Pharis Romero from Horsefly, Caley Watts from Bella Coola, along with Soupbone and Drum & Bell Tower from Williams Lake.
Local writers Ann Walsh, Lorne Dufour, Van Andruss, Sage Birchwater and Barb Coupe, formerly from Williams Lake, offered writing and poetry workshops and readings.
Sharon Cahn from Horsefly gave workshops on needle-felting and nuno felting, while Doug Gook from Quesnel got the hips gyrating with his hula hoop workshop.
Williams Lake’s Dandylion Interpretor, Mary Forbes, offered historic tours of Wells.
Something new this year was the Organic Farmers in the Round workshop moderated by Sage Birchwater. Participants came from Lillooet, Clinton, Bella Coola, Quesnel, Alexis Creek, Mackin Creek, Marguerite, Knife Creek, Fort Fraser, Vancouver, Kamloops, Victoria and Williams Lake.
Local participants included Rob Borsato and Cathy Allen from Mackin Creek Farm, Mike and Stephanie Bird from Macalister, Chris Robinson from Road’s End Farm, Clint and Karen Thompson from San Jose Cattle Company, and Chris and Ray Hornby from the Potato House Sustainability Project in Williams Lake.