Festival founders Kris Hargrave and Kia Zahrabi promise Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival will return in 2016, August 19 to 21, in Rock Creek.
Kris is from Rock Creek. Kia took his early schooling in Oliver.
The festival, called off last year due to safety concerns just two days before it was set to begin, was hit hard by the cancellation. Kris and Kia however, are “rallying for Rock Creek” and bringing the three days of music, art, camping, and freshness, back for another year. “Last year’s cancellation was difficult to say the least, but it has motivated us even more to come back even stronger this year,” Zahrabi says. “Quality music, chill vibes, awesome value, maximum freshness -that’s what Ponderosa is, and this year our fans have an added opportunity to directly help a community that was hit by the worst forest fire they’ve seen in over 30 years.”
The two also continue to ensure that the event benefits and supports the community of Rock Creek as
much moving forward as they have in the past. The donations from November’s “Let’s Build A House!”
fundraiser at the Imperial in Vancouver will help build a new home this spring for the Winn family, living
just north of Rock Creek. In addition, a portion of each ticket sold for the 2016 festival will be donated to
Habitat for Humanity Southeast BC, the organization spearheading the rebuild efforts.
“People are always asking us how they can help, and well, this is it. By purchasing tickets early people not
only secure their three days of music and sun for an unbeatable price, they also help give the festival the
boost it needs to stay afloat while donating funds directly to the rebuild efforts in the community. It’s a
win win – win.”
Early bird tickets, which include the three full days of music, camping, and parking, start at $99 per person
and are on sale now at ponderosafestival.com. Early bird tickets are expected to sell out fast, and when
they do, regular 3-day ticket prices will increase to the Tier 1 level of $129.
The full list of performing acts will be announced at Ponderosa’s annual Jean Shorts-themed Lineup
Launch Party, currently set for early May.