Grateful fans are congratulating The 39 Days of July festival following its wrap-up for another year on Aug. 1.
The festival wound up that day with a youth showcase on the stage at Charles Hoey Park.
That show included scheduled performers from Duncan Has Talent and many more but also included some last-minute changes.
When a kids’ band from Nanaimo had to cancel, the door was open for young Cowichan country singer Lynnea Bruce and her friends, percussionist Taylor Allum and guitarist Ray Visscher, to take the stage.
Bruce has been taking some time off from performing, but announced happily, “First gig in over a year today! The gang’s back together.”
The set included some of her own favourites but also classics like Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire,’ to the delight of the B.C. Day crowd.
It’s been a busy summer for Longevity John Falkner, and Ted Cadillac, who with Aiden Olenick, have done a good amount of the backstage work in getting 333 shows onto three stages in Downtown Duncan as The 39 Days wound on.
Falkner said after introducing an act Aug. 1 that he was “content” that everything worked out and that the festival is growing every year.
Later, he posted on Facebook, “For now, the park is emptied. all is generally where it is supposed to be and that includes me on my way to a good night’s sleep. Thank you to all who enjoyed what was put forth, it was so good for all of us in so many ways.”
Cadillac posted on Facebook that although he, too, was looking forward to lots of sleep, it was also time to offer “huge thank-yous to all the musicians and dancers that shared their art, the people who kept me fed, helped lug gear, put out chairs, cleaned up garbage, and everyone who came out to enjoy this amazing experience with us. Every year this thing truly is life-altering.”
Cathy Schmidt, who, with Laura Cardriver, mentors and judges the big Duncan Has Talent event, had kind words for the organizers, too.
“To the Duncan Summer festival committee, The 39 Days of Duncan summer festival is such an amazing event. We know how much time and money this takes to put this all together. However, so many people benefit from your generosity and hard work so, for that, thank you so much!”