Two beloved music festivals are remerging in the Rockies. 

After a two-year hiatus, the Jasper Folk Music Festival is scheduled to return on September 9-10. Similarly, two years after the pandemic pulled the rug out from large gatherings, the Robson Valley Music Festival in Dunster, B.C. is back on track for the August 12-14 weekend.

JFMF’s executive director Cristin Murphy said the time is right for live music.

“Now that everybody is doing their best to live with this new normal we feel like as an outdoor festival, we can do things as safe as possible,” she said.

Next door in British Columbia, what isn’t safe, is betting that you have plenty of time left to get a ticket for the Robson Valley Music Festival. After announcing its return and releasing early-bird passes on April 1, tickets have been going fast. Festival host, organizer and matriarch, Shara Gustafson, said she’s excited to have attendees back on her Fraser Valley farmland. 

“It’s been a long two and a half years and people are more than ready for this,” she said.

Murphy said the JFMF is looking for people who want to join the festival team. Besides a weekend pass and great merch, volunteers get to be part of a fun crew whose collective goal is to put on an awesome community festival in a beautiful setting, Murphy said.

“We have a good time,” she laughed. 

Gustafson is proud of the quality of artists that the Robson Valley Music Festival has put in front of audiences for the 14 years that it has taken place. While 2022’s event will limit the number of attendees by 250 tickets compared to years previous, RVMF is looking forward to once again featuring high-caliber acts, both established and emerging.

“Along with stellar main stage area performances, there will be vendors, a kids zone, workshops and earth ship acoustic performances full of magic,” she added.

RVMF tickets are on sale now and going quick. The Jasper Folk Music Festival board, meanwhile, is inviting members of the public who want to join the festival team to their first board meeting on April 13.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com