Boonstock
BOONSTOCK: The music, the fun, the dust
PENTICTON - Boonstock fans have spoken and they are pleased. If social media is any indication—and of course it is—all the controversy surrounding Boonstock's first year in Penticton was lost on party-goers on the first night of the show. Mother Mother and Armin Vanbuuren got plenty of love. But read on to get some hilarious...
IN PHOTOS: Boonstock
PENTICTON - The first full day of Boonstock is over and it doesn't seem like the dust has gotten to too many concert-goers. WIth bandanas over their faces, people continued to dance, jam and party as bands and DJs tore up the stages last night. The campsite is full of people, some who've set up...
BOONSTOCK: The festival in the eyes of campers
PENTICTON - Andrea Vischler and Kelsey Johns sit in what could be considered the living room of their campsite, a rug spread out, pillows propped up and chairs and stools for resting on. This is not their first rodeo—the girls clearly know how to attend a festival in style and comfort. They drove from their...
IN PHOTOS: Boonstock Saturday
PENTICTON - Boonstock attendees are spending their days at the beach, lounging at the campsite, and taking a break from the dancing and patrying that happens at night. Take a look at what was happening on Skaha Lake-Airport Road beach, and the Boonstock grounds and campsite today. %%embed1%% To contact the reporter for this story,...
Two Boonstock security guards fired for attempted liquor theft
PENTICTON - Two 24-7 Security employees appear to have been fired after they were were caught on security camera allegedly trying to steal liquor from Last Call Liquor Mart on Saturday. Navneet Dhaliwal, a principal at the company in control of Boonstock's security, posted to Facebook that the two men have been fired. "We need...
BOONSTOCK: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis take it home
PENTICTON - International music sensations Macklemore and Ryan Lewis closed out the show Sunday night at Boonstock, the music festival that's been rocking Penticton all weekend long. There were more attendees Sunday night than anytime over the weekend—an additional parking lot was opened up and RCMP worked as security for the long lines of people...
Tent Graveyard: The aftermath of Boonstock
PENTICTON - The Boonstock grounds that held over 8,000 people this weekend is now littered with tents, lawn chairs, beer cans and confetti, leaving crews with a lot of work on their hands. The festival received mainly positive reviews about performances and artists that took the stage this weekend — even headliner Macklemore asked to be...
Councillor says Boonstock for “head-banging druggies”
PENTICTON - City Coun. Katie Robinson made an unexpected comment about Boonstock at last night’s council meeting, causing gallery members to gasp and other councillors to hold their heads in their hands. “I’m not a head-banging druggie, so I wasn’t interested in it whatsoever,” Robinson said of the festival. Robinson has been outspoken about her...
RCMP: Pressure for emergency services reaches unprecedented level over long weekend
PENTICTON - RCMP said the pressure Boonstock put on emergency services over the long weekend was taken to unprecedented levels. In a statement released Wednesday, Const. Kris Clark said the large number of overdoses and the death of a 24-year-old Alberta woman caused “alarm for the overwhelmed emergency and security operations”. RCMP provided additional resources...
“Head-banging druggie” discussion positive for community, says city councillor
PENTICTON - A controversial comment made by a Penticton city councillor has sparked imaginations in Penticton with the creation of t-shirts, hashtags and Facebook groups with the slogan “head-banging druggie,” but the councillor being targeted sees the backlash as a benefit for the community. Coun. Katie Robinson said, “I’m not a head-banging druggie,” at last week’s...
Boonstock survey: A new location, a new experience
PENTICTON - They came, they saw, they got dirty and partied. Now Boonstock wants to hear from you how it went. Boonstock Music and Arts Festival organizers today released an online survey for festival attendees to provide feedback. The survey was posted on Boonstock’s official Facebook page and people are already posting comments about how to...
Boonstock gives $4.5 million boost to Penticton economy
PENTICTON - Survey results released Tuesday by Boonstock festival organizers show a total economic impact of $4.5 million for the Penticton region generated by the festival over the August long weekend. Some 2,500 people responded to the survey — roughly a quarter of the 8,621 "unique attendees" over the three-and-a-half day event, according to the...
RCMP say Boonstock needs to reimburse government for additional police costs
PENTICTON - RCMP say Boonstock organizers need to reimburse the provincial government for additional police officers required during the festival weekend, after private security failed to provide adequate resources. The two final days of the festival required additional personnel since RCMP had to shift their focus to security and public safety. A new cost analysis...
Boonstock says RCMP accounting is ‘speculation’
PENTICTON - Boonstock organizers say they received a bill from the provincial government three-and-a-half times more than the additional $50,000 RCMP say is owed for extra costs incurred over the festival weekend last month. The Ministry of Justice sent an invoice to Boonstock organizers with a “total owing” of nearly $177,000, and gave them 30...
Penticton wants province to look after Boonstock
PENTICTON - City council has taken its Boonstock woes straight to the provincial government and it appears the province is interested in taking it on, along with other large music festivals. In a release today, the City of Penticton says its full contingent of mayor and councillors (minus only Coun. John Vassilaki) at the Union...