WHISTLER MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON FAMILY FUN - JULY 22-24, 2005

 2nd Annual Festival, presented by Visa, features free events and performances for kids of all ages

Whistler, B.C. - Concerts on the mountain, lively street entertainment, and a weekend of children's art workshops make the 2nd Annual Whistler Music & Arts Festival a perfect family event this July. Presented by Visa in partnership with Tourism Whistler, the Whistler Music & Arts Festival will include a wide array of free and ticketed events, with special accommodation packages making the whole experience even more enjoyable and affordable.

"Whistler has always been known for being a number one ski resort, but what some folks may not realize is that Whistler is also a vibrant community with a rich cultural foundation," says Paula Mohammed, Tourism Whistler. "From visual artists, potters, filmmakers, and photographers to musicians, actors and comedians, the Whistler area boasts an amazing breadth of incredible talent."

"The Whistler Music & Arts Festival is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our local talent - and perhaps reveal a new side of Whistler to our visitors," adds Mohammed.

Producers are busily working behind-the-scenes booking top notch music acts for the weekend-long music festival taking place at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain. A number of performers will be entertaining the crowds each afternoon and evening on a stage on the lower slopes of Blackcomb Mountain. With terrific acoustics and an unbelievable backdrop, this unique venue is the perfect way to enjoy a wonderful weekend of music. Details of performances will be available soon.

"Visa has been a proud supporter of Canada's diverse thriving arts and music scene for many years, so continuing this tradition by supporting the Whistler Music & Arts Festival is a given for us," said Erica Yoshida, Senior Product Manager, Market Development, Visa Canada. "Our Olympic sponsorship will see us in Whistler in 2010, but opportunities to support and encourage tourism in Whistler before then are always on the radar for us."   

For budding Picassos, the Whistler Children's Art Festival is the perfect place to hone their skills. Over the past 22 years this Festival has encouraged thousands of little artists, and now the Children's Art Festival is teaming up with the Whistler Music & Arts Festival to reach out to even more kids. Led by professional artists and performers, the Creekside workshops offer two days of hands-on experience in the arts, including music, dance, theatre and photography.

To check out the work of some more experienced artists, it's as easy as taking a stroll through the Village.  From July 1-31, the Whistler Arts Council will present the 2nd Annual Whistler ArtWalk featuring the work of established and emerging artists and artisans from the Sea to Sky corridor.  The ArtWalk brochure provides a self-guided tour of approximately 20 non-traditional "galleries", including cafes, retail stores, hotel lobbies and other businesses.  The ArtWalk Opening Reception will be on Friday, July 8.

William Shakespeare said that "All the world's a stage" and during the Whistler Music & Arts Festival this is certainly true.  All summer long the streets of Whistler come alive with fabulous (and funny) street entertainers, and, during the Whistler Music & Arts Festival, some of Whistler's favourite acts have been invited back to brighten everybody's day. 

Elenna Hope will liven up Whistler's pedestrian pathways with her wacky cast of characters on stilts, including "Verna", the ageless wonder dishing out unusual fashion tips, the enchanting "Queen of Summer" basking in the sunshine or the beautiful and charming "Fairy" spreading her magic and mischief to onlookers.

Also performing at various outdoor locations throughout Whistler Village July 22-24, are accomplished Latin Jazz quartet Picante with their huge repertoire of Latin music; including Gypsy Kings, Antonia Carlos Jobim and even the Beatles.

For a little more serious take on the arts, the Festival is pleased to present a luncheon with Raymond T. Grant about the impact of the Olympics on the arts.  On July 21, Grant, the executive director of Sundance Resort and former head of the 2002 Olympic Arts Festival, will be at the Westin Resort at 11:30 a.m. presenting "From the Olympics to Cultural Legacy: A Perspective on Olympic Arts Festivals". 

For more information about the Whistler Music & Arts Festival, presented by Visa visit www.tourismwhistler.com or call the Tourism Whistler Activity and Information Centre at 604-938-2769 or toll free at 1-877-991-9988.


 

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