This year’s Otalith Music Festival lured a large and respectful crowd that kept the fairgrounds full and the police cells empty.
“It was a non-event as far as police calls go,” said detachment commander Sgt. Jeff Swann. “We had some extra members on duty and they weren’t needed... It was just a very well run event.”
About 1,300 music lovers swarmed to the festival’s third annual appearance at Ucluelet’s Seaplane Base Field on Aug. 21-22 and Swann said the large crowd respected their surroundings and kept clear from trouble.
“In the first two years there was a couple little kinks in the plan but as far as this festival goes for Ucluelet, I can’t wait for the next one,” he said.
“If we can put on a festival like that, with that many people in town, at an event where alcohol is served and have it so well-run and well-organized, the community needs to be proud of that.”
He suggested Otalith’s success shows Ucluelet could handle more festivals.
“When we’ve got this caliber of people running these organizations and planning these events...It just totally means we can do more,” he said. “It brings a real sense of community, I think, when you can put on these events.”
He acknowledged some festivals in other areas bring expectations of tag-along riff-raff but said this expectation is disappearing on the West Coast.
“It’s such a warm feeling to have a community with engaged citizens that go to these events and bring their children, and bring their families, and enjoy a nice cold beverage, listen to some fantastic tunes, feel the vibe, and everybody’s happy,” he said.
“On a continual basis the community keeps putting on these events that go off without a hitch and it’s fantastic.”
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca