WHERE do we start?! Running 6 events in one year (1 at Connor Park and 5 at Coopers Green Park) is no small feat! 100% commitment from all involved ensures success (the only thing out of our control is the weather and, other than a few showers, even that went in our favour!).
PTERODACTYL TRAIL RACES & SPORTS DAY…our 1 event at Connor Park: thanks to Pacesetter Athletic, the Sunshine Coast Disc Golf Association & Ultimate Frisbee, Professional Hula Hoop group, West Coast Nibbles, and Semir’s Hot Dog Cart. Also thanks to PAC for their sound system, and MC Michael Budd for an outstanding job of announcing and musical interludes.
For the remaining 5 Coopers Green events, continue reading…
WELCOME…kwayimin Andy Johnson, Cultural Ambassador, welcomed all to the ancestral lands of the shishahl Nation.
SPONSORS…Special thanks to 91.7 Coast FM, our Media Sponsor for the entire 2023 Event Series. In addition, this poster represents the generous 17 sponsors (including a BC government grant) which ensured we could pay all associated event costs. As MC Keith reminded event-goers, please make sure to say “thank you” when you do business with them.
MAIN STAGE… MC Keith on the Coast did an amazing job of keeping the program running, making announcements, greeting 50/50 ticket winners, etc. Hope he’ll come back next year! We’d also like to thank Simon Paradis who brought a line-up of the Coast’s most talented musicians to the Main Stage:
- Alick & Charlie Duo
- Community Jam
- Sofa Kings
- Michelle Morand & Bad Tonz
- Howe Sounders
- Farm Team
- Brothers in Farms
- Jim Foster
- Sticks & Bones
- Them Ordinary Things
- Robin Atchison
- Grant Olson
- Joe Stanton & Deborah Holland
- Blue Western
- Tom Neville & Friends (feat. Simon Paradis & Joe Stanton)
- Steve Hinton Blue
- Nelson Giles (comedian)
- Peter (the Sound Guy)
FOOD & BEVERAGE VENDORS…our regulars, plus 2 new ones, were back! Thanks for feeding us: West Coast Nibbles, Sushma’s Indian Delights, Mama Musey’s Pierogies, EatsWest, the HMB Fire Dept BBQ, All Thai’d Up, Aquis es Mexico, Wandering Wonders, e.b. Ice Cream, and the House of Mistry (on movie night). Special thanks to the Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary for returning to the Fair with the popular Pancake Breakfast! Thanks for the beverages: Batch 44, Bruinwood Estate Distillery, Brickers Cider, and the HBCA Board (for other beverage sales). Thanks Sechelt Ice for keeping our drinks cool!
MARKETPLACE (FAIR) VENDORS…how about that Marketplace?! 40 vendors of locally-crafted items and non-profits providing valuable information is a big draw at our annual Fair. See this link for a complete list; shop local, support our community businesses.
OTHER PROVIDERS…
- Driftwood Youth Pop-Up Theatre
- HMB Fire Department – fire truck, balloon animals
- PAC bake sale, cake walk; Let It Bee Honey face-painting
- Strolling Entertainers – Nutty Big Pants & Craig the Magician
- Bingo – Cheryl & Dan
- 50/50 – Joan
- Movie Night – thanks to resident Doug Dunn – Bugs Bunny & Back to the Future
- Wellness in the Park (thanks Liat Pakes, Lauri Paul & Linsey Hulls)
- Solar Scopes – the SC Astronomy Club
- Seaside Activities: Low Tide exploration – Lee-Ann Ennis & Rand Rudland; HYPR Paddleboards, HMB Marine SARS, HMB Kayaks
- The Shuffle Bus drivers
- Photographers – Chelsea Rosium, Ken McCann, Heather from the Coast Reporter
And last, but by no means least, our VOLUNTEERS!
- The HBCA Board dedicates countless hours to the pre-event logistics beginning in January right through to the event wrap-up, ensuring that all the loose ends are taken care of.
- A special shout-out to Dan Sklazeski, volunteer-extraordinaire, who performs too many field crew tasks to list here.
- Halfmoon Bay residents (and HBCA members) show up from early morning and stay until after sunset, performing the myriad of tasks required for each event. (You know who you are – check your inboxes soon for details on the HBCA’s Volunteer Appreciate Dinner!)
PHOTOS – Judging by the pictures (visit the individual event posts – Fair – Lazy Daze – Shuffle – to access the galleries), all had a wonderful time, showing the true spirit of the Halfmoon Bay community and our visitors.
Well, that’s a wrap! Again, from the bottom of our hearts, thanks to every single one of you for helping out and showing up.
See you in 2024!