Metal heads rejoice for the 16th annual Armstrong Metalfest

Armstrong Metalfest is returning this weekend, July 17 and 18, for 2 full days of Metal Music, Camping, and a fun lineup of side events to watch or take part in. Hosted on the IPE grounds in Armstrong, BC, the festival is currently in its 16th year and has become a yearly tradition for many metal heads in the Okanagan while also drawing in plenty of out-of-town regulars as well.  With an exciting lineup of 28 different bands performing over the course of 2 days, the festival is guaranteed to be a great time for metal music fans.

Armstrong Metalfest is part of West Metal Entertainment, a not-for-profit society registered with the Canadian government, bringing opportunities for new bands to play among larger-name acts. The community itself brings a great opportunity to discover new bands, network with other bands, and make new lifelong friends while rocking out to Metal.

The festival converts the IPE grounds and Hassen Arena into a great outdoor experience with food trucks, vendors, and a full concert stage inside the arena. The festival started in 2009 as “Armstrong Open Air” as a homage to the European festivals and evolved over the years from a small gooseneck trailer to building a stage inside the Hassen Arena.

Side events include:

Thrash Wrestling, cheer on your favourite local wrestling stars from the Okanagan in a traditional ring setup.

Yeti Games, 6 extreme skill-testing events! 20 participants compete for a chance to win two free passes to next year’s metal fest. The last person standing wins…

Sword Fighting performances from the North Okanagan Fellowship of Swordfighters, specializing in historical martial arts with swords and shields.

Beer Helmet March, a fun time to craft or forge creatively with their leftover beer cans, cardboard, and waste.

Tickets, Schedule, and more information can be found on the festival website here.