Esquimalt Lagoon promises to be the scene for hot eats and cool beats tonight (Friday, Aug. 28).
The pristine waterfront of one of Vancouver Island’s most scenic destinations hosts a medley of musicians and food trucks from 4 to 8 p.m. for the inaugural Eats & Beats at the Beach. With only a handful of weeks before the summer sizzles out, co-organizer Sandra Russell welcomes visitors to the scenic waterfront for a sun-soaked evening on the West Shore.
“We want to remind people Colwood has an amazing waterfront,” she says. “It’s rare to have five kilometres of ocean beach front with a lighthouse at one end, a castle in the middle, and a migratory bird sanctuary. It’s about bringing people down there and reminding people of it.”
The south end of the beachfront will have a lane blocked off for three food trucks, an ice cream cart, a volleyball net, a giant Jenga game on the beach and four musical acts.
One of those performers, West Shore resident Karly Summers, says she still spends quiet evenings at the lagoon with her ukulele after work, and has many a fond memory of going there as a child.
“It’s really cool to play right on the beach I grew up on. It’s a beautiful area and it’s cool they are doing an event for an events’ sake,” she says. “It’s not promoting anything except that there is an awesome beach so close to home.”
Russell looks forward to seeing Summers and three other acts including the Fat Cats, Emmett O’ Sullivan and Marcus Eaton get visitors toes tapping for what could be the first of many summer festivals to take place along the waterfront.
“It is really exciting because we are getting a really good response,” she says. “People have been waiting for more to happen in (this) lagoon that people know and love just for the beauty of it. It’s going to be a simple event, because they want to do a trial event and build for future.”
Russell expects between 300 and 500 people to take in the event. With feedback to be solicited from residents afterwards, She hopes the upstart event will prove to be a fit and have the possibility of future expansion.
“Colwood council understands that community events and festivals contribute to quality of life,” she says. “(They) strengthen communities by creating connections, building awareness of diverse cultures, identities and interests, attracting tourism, spurring economic growth and acting as a source of community pride.”
alim@goldstreamgazette.com