What you need to know if you’re coming to Boonstock
PENTICTON – If you’re heading out to Penticton this weekend for the Boonstock Music and Arts Festival you may have some questions about the grounds, booze, and what to do in town while giving your liver and ears a break. Here’s the low-down:
ACCESS
The festival grounds can only be accessed from the North side of Skaha Lake Road. People driving into town from the direction of Kaleden/Princeton off Highway 3 will be directed to turn around and enter from the opposite direction. This is the only entrance for vehicles. You will be guided to a parking lot or campsite depending on your passes.
ALCOHOL
You probably heard that Boonstock does not hold a liquor license so there will be no beer gardens. This also means that people cannot walk around open festival grounds with alcohol. Campers can bring liquor to their campsite to drink there but are not allowed to walk around campgrounds with open alcohol. There are pubs and liquor stores within a 10 to 15 minute walk from Boonstock grounds. If you do not have a camping-designated bracelet you will not be allowed into the campgrounds.
WEATHER
It’s going to be hot this weekend with temperatures ranging from 26 to 34 degrees. There’s a chance of thundershowers on Friday and scattered showers on Sunday but the weather will otherwise be sunny with some cloudiness.
FOOD and SUPPLIES
There are several grocery stores and a Walmart that can all be accessed off Main Street-Channel Parkway. There is drinkable water on festival grounds so bring a water bottle and stay hydrated.
ACCOMMODATION
If you’re not camping at the Boonstock campsite, there are other places around town to stay. There are lots of motels and hotels close to Skaha Lake and the festival grounds, including Beachside Motel, Best Western, Lakeside Villa and Sunny Beach Motel. But you better call and check because many are full or expected to be full. Good luck. There are also places to camp, such as Wright’s Beach Camp and Lake Skaha Tent and Trailer Park.
MEDICAL
There are emergency services lined up for the festival, including fire crews, ambulances, first aid and on-site RCMP. The provincial Medical Mobile Unit will be set up all weekend at the Penticton Regional Hospital if anyone needs additional medical attention.
ACTIVITIES
There is never a shortage of things to do in Penticton during the summer and here’s your chance to check some of them out. Floating the canal is a must. Tubes can be rented from Coyote Cruises. There are wine tours and beer tastings at local breweries and wineries. The Saturday farmers’ market will be set up downtown on Main Street this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1p.m. There is also paddle boarding, yoga, hiking and rock climbing for adventure enthusiasts, plus lots of small, local cafes and restaurants for dining.
Have a fun and safe weekend!
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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2 responses
I would like to say that I live in Penticton and I am a little older than the crowd expected at Boonstock Music Festival but I would like to let you all know that I hope you have a fantastic time.One thing that was not mentioned in this article was Coyote Cruises, which is where you can rent a tube and float down the channel, which on hot days is a fabulous thing to do.Also the temperature will be closer to 37 degrees.HAVE A FABULOUS TIME.
Sorry to tell you Meaghan, but there is no rooms or campsites available. Hasn’t been any for months. This weekend has two car shows, Ultraman event and the Mr. Muscle contest. This is Penticton’s busiest weekend without Boonstock. If you don’t already have a crash pad, you will be sleeping in your car. And remember, RCMP will have roadblocks on every corner. They will search you and your vehicle at least 3 times before you reach the grounds. As a note of interest, there will be 20 plain-clothes officers on the grounds from the gang task force. I think this event has had the kiss of death. Not fair. Obvious that the town doesn’t want this kind of event.