Picking Beets & Rocking Beats: Harvest Season in Whistler
Posted by: Feet Banks
Break out the double entendres because whether you are into “beets” or “beats” Whistler is going off these days.
First off, it’s been one of the sunniest summers in recent memory and BC farmers are right in the thick of harvest season. Which means the Whistler Farmers’ Market is overflowing with fresh local vegetables, berries and fruits. Food lovers are relishing the abundance and stocking up for those final summer picnic and BBQ sessions. Meanwhile, preserving and canning is also back en vogue (good work hipsters!) so everyone’s pickling, canning, dehydrating and hoarding for the upcoming winter.
“This harvest season has been amazing because it started a bit early thanks to the weather,” says Farmers’ Market organizer/man-about-town Chris Quinlan. “As well there are about 20 more farms in the area than in previous years so that is a good thing.”
Local organic vegetables aren’t the only thing flying off the trucks this year at the Farmers’ Market, you can also get local booze. For the first time ever, new BC liquor laws allow liquor to be sold alongside baked goods, veggies and kettle corn. And that is also a good thing.
“It’s been fantastic,” Quinlan enthuses. “People can come try a local beer or grab something from the Pemberton Distillery to take home and enjoy alongside veggies grown in the very same valley. It reminds me of European markets where you can get everything in one place.”
And if you aren’t into beets what about beats? The Whistler Presents Concert Series fires back up this weekend with free shows at Whistler Olympic Plaza. Friday August 22, 2014 features party rockers The Matinee opening for Albertan cowboy country icon Corb Lund. Things shift gears for Saturday August 23, 2014 with grooving dance beat master Kuba Oms opening for Canadian soul legend Jarvis Church.
Then next weekend (August 29-30, 2014) the Del Barber Band and Dallas Smith take care of Friday night with some down home lyrical country tunes and Saturday gets the world beat treatment courtesy of 6-piece Roots-Reggae funksters Messenjah and brilliant Afro-soul star Rocky Dawuni and his band. Sunday August 31, 2014 sees Vancouver alt-folkies Headwater share the stage with singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson.
Beets or beats: Whistler summer still has a lot of life in it and the good times are still ripe for the picking.
The Whistler Farmers’ Market sets up at the base of Blackcomb Mountain on Wednesdays from 3-7 PM until the end of August and also on Sundays from 11 AM – 4 PM all the way through to October 12, 2014. All the Whistler Presents Concerts start at 7:30 PM each evening and are free to everyone. Check out Whistler.com for more info and deals on accommodation. In the meantime check out videos from the Whistler Presents artists below.
The Matinee – Friday August 22, 2014. 7:30 PM.
Corb Lund – Friday August 22, 2014. 8:30 PM.
Kuba Oms – Saturday August 23, 2014. 7:30 PM
Jarvis Smith – Saturday August 23, 2014. 8:30 PM
Del Barber Band – Friday August 29, 2014. 7:30 PM
Dallas Smith – Friday August 29, 2014. 8:30 PM
Messenjah – Saturday August 30, 2014. 7:30 PM
Rocky Dawuni – Saturday August 30, 2014. 8:30 PM
Headwater – Sunday August 31, 2014. 7:30 PM
Matt Nathanson – Sunday August 31, 2014. 8:30 PM
Article source: http://www.whistler.com/blog/post/2014/08/21/whistler-farming-concerts.aspx
