Summer Date Nights are back! 

We will be attending our (3rd annual) and the 38th Annual Vancouver Folk Festival this weekend, July 17th-19th for some pretty amazing date nights and to say I am excited really just doesn’t cut the mustard. I am beyond excited.

Not only have we secured babysitting for two nights, (like we did last year) but this year they are sleepovers which means mama and daddy get to stay out really really late! And because we’ve been working hard on making sure we get enough sleep these days I think we can finally manage it.

This might not sound like a big deal to the uninitiated but let me tell you that in nearly five years we have not been able to say that with any amount of confidence. And while there is still very good reason that this blog’s subline is ‘in the world between naps’ you might see that moniker disappear as we put the torturous days of sleep deprivation behind us.

That is reason to celebrate alone but I digress…

Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach

This year’s Vancouver Folk Fest is going to be amazing! I’ve checked out the website and have discovered this piece of genius to get me in the mood. It’s a curated playlist of artists from this year’s Festival that I’m listening to as I write this. Check it out.

Aside from the music there much more to take in this year at the Festival. I’ll just highlight a few of the activities you and your family can take in this year.

Little Folks Village

From crafts and works of art from recycled materials to learning how to make clay sculptures and storytelling and a parade. It’s a given that this is one of the main reasons the Festival is so fantastic so we will make sure to spend lots of time in the Little Folks Village while OLM is with us on Saturday and Sunday. And once he’s tired out we’ll take him for a sleepover with his favourite little friend so we can go back and take in the music, baby!

It’s inevitable that we’ll need to rest after all the excitement because our bodies and minds aren’t quite over the shock of having raised a kid so late in our lives. There is plenty of shade under beautiful old trees to sneak in a couple zzz’s without interruption except for the sweet sound of the best music in town. Can you say heaven?

I’ve picked just a sampling of the music lineup this weekend. Here you go. For more information go directly to their website.

Friday

Said the Whale and Beans on Toast at 6.25pm. Woot! 

The Melbourne Ska Orchestra on Friday evening at 10.05pm.

Fun right?

Saturday

7.25pm Basia Bulat with Grace Petrie

Check out this amazing video biography on Adam Cohen and how he’s going back to his roots to create music that resonates through family life. i will definitely be checking him out on Saturday at 5pm.

8.40pm Blind Pilot with Bongeizie Mabandla

Sunday

Angélique Kidjo at 9.25

There is a huge lineup of talented artists this weekend and there is so much I could say about how amazing this weekend is going to be. If you have the weekend free you really should go. We’d love to hang out with you! Get your tickets HERE today. It’s going to be the best decision you’ve made in a long time!

Food and Shopping

There’s also plenty of good eats! From dim sum to donairs and bannock, to roasted corn on the cob and whole frozen mango on a stick and the beer gardens there’s something for everyone. Pricing is pretty decent for most things but we’ll bring a picnic to keep costs down so we can still sample a few things.

The Folk Bazaar offers a diverse collection of treasures to peruse. There’s one of a kind jewellery, hand screen printed t-shirts and artisan goods to keep your hippie self clean and smelling good.

If you want to stay up-to-date with how it’s going at the Festival or to meet up with us FOLLOW ME ON Twitter, Facebook AND Instagram! And of course you can follow the Vancouver Folk Music Festival on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram too.

Love for the Environment

I love how environmentally conscious the Festival is. You’ll never see litter and all trash is separated and the mission is work towards a waste-free Festival. Water bottles are not sold on site so be sure to bring a refillable container or purchase one while you’re at the Festival. To learn more about the festival’s environmental stewardship click HERE.

Getting there

Take transit, carpool, walk or bike. There is plenty of bike parking at the main gate but if you have to drive I suggest you leave early or prepare to park a distance away.

Photos courtesy of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.