The countdown is on for Live at Squamish and on Friday (Aug. 20), Squamish Mayor Greg Gardner joined organizers and the musical festival mascot -Square - on a promotional tour through town.
"This is the largest festival held in B.C. this year," said Gardner at the Adventure Centre, the tour's final stop. "I think this is the ideal venue for such an event."
Surrounded by forests and mountains in the heart of the Sea to Sky Corridor, multiple stages of electronic, indie, blues and rock music will take over the Loggers Sports grounds, the adjacent campgrounds and the Al Hendrickson ball fields for two days on Sept. 4 and 5.
Gardner said the direct economic impact that Live at Squamish brings is substantial.
"Obviously businesses in town will be busy, the hotels and campgrounds will be full and in a larger sense, it will help people start to see Squamish as a destination."
Festival organizer, brand.LIVE, is committed to running the festival for at least five years.
"We want to grow this festival year after year," said brand.LIVE senior vice president Greg Albrecht. "Believe me when I say by Sept. 9 we'll have started calling bands for next year's festival."
Albrecht promised there would be a broader range of entertainment than just music - burlesque dancers, eatART's solar powered bicycle and more.
He said organizers have seen a huge spike in sales recently, and they are in the process of organizing buses between the festival grounds, Vancouver, Whistler and Horseshoe Bay. There will also be a bike valet service, and anyone carpooling with more than three people will receive a discount on parking.
Chances Casino is now the official after party stop where several DJs from the festival have agreed to play, and there will be a free shuttle going between the festival and the bar all night.
The final lead-up to the event includes special vendor opportunities, an iPhone application with info about the artists, a map of the grounds, a schedule for each day and a contest rewarding sightings of Square - whose name amalgamates "Squamish" and "bear."
Square has been gallivanting around corridor community events and throughout the Lower Mainland, promoting the upcoming festival.
"We think you just might be able to catch our bear," states the Live at Squamish website.
"He's quite a sociable creature, so you can find him at all of the hot spots around town and in your communities."
Anyone who spots Square and takes a photo can send it in and receive prizes or tickets to the two-day celebration.
Tickets are available Chances Casino, Whistler Brewery and the Adventure Centre.
