Culture was celebrated on the Coast last weekend with a hugely successful Sechelt Arts Festival.
Hundreds of participants in free workshops, a steady flow of visitors and locals enjoyed the entertainment in Hackett Park, Rockwood gardens and the festival pavilion.
Allison Crowe shared her extraordinary talent with an appreciative audience in the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, and Deanna Cartea, Maureen Bodie and Katherine Hume entertained hundreds of people at the opening receptions.
Steve Wright, Skye Wallace and Cartea sang in the festival pavilion while young entertainers were on stage in Hackett Park. MCD, Charlotte, Connor, Maya and Esme, and Katherine Rowlands gave their all to the crowds. Jean Pierre Makosso, Gerardo, Story Theatre, The Cornpones and Korean Drum team were major highlights in Hackett Park.
The chalk art competition was a huge success with 50 chalk drawings in the sidewalk on Cowrie Street. Families created together while visitors from the U.S. created their art with the U.S. and Canadian flags as the central theme.
The Cornpones provided music to dance and listen to while the chalk drawings were created. Thanks to Gerardo and Liz Freund for their fun during the chalk art competition.
Carnival Era closed the entertainment with a magical celebration party and barbecue in the Rockwood gardens.
The Sechelt First Nation provided an opening and closing ceremony with their ambassadors Xwamstut on the pier at the tori gate. Sechelt Nation members also made drums, demonstrated weaving, carving and beading and painted artistic faces in Hackett Park.
Visual arts will be on display in the Seaside Centre and Arts Centre until Aug. 7.
- Submitted by Elaine Hunter, Festival co-ordinator
