Ponderosa Festival returns this weekend in Rock Creek

PENTICTON – The Ponderosa Festival returns to Rock Creek following a hiatus last year.

The Rock Creek wildfire put the event on hold in 2015, but the three day weekend summer music and arts festival is back this weekend, Aug. 19 to Aug. 21 at the Rock Creek Fairgrounds.

Festival organizer Laurel Borrowman says some performers scheduled to play at last year’s cancelled event are returning this year.

"We’ve got over 25 carefully curated acts set up for the festival,” she says.

New for this year are helicopter tours of the Rock Creek area and a special appearance by Leo, the miraculous goat who escaped the wildfire last year.

“We’ll have river floating, fresh fruit, clean water and non-stop freshness on tap all weekend long,” Borrowman says.

Those attending will have full access to artists and vendors for the three day period. Food vendors will be available on site, parking is free and camping is available.

This year the Ponderosa Festival is also offering three tipi rentals, for those with a taste for something different.

Artists include Black Mountain, Timber Timbre, The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer, Royal Canoe, The Boom Booms, Giraffe Aftermath, Cam Penner and Youngblood.

For a complete list of artists and information about tickets check out the Ponderosa Festival website.

Rock Creek and Westbridge residents are welcome to attend the festival by donation, with proceeds donated back to the community. The festival is also a fundraiser for Let’s Build a House.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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