I'm so curious to see what happens here on this 'Festival & Space Maker Network', and just in general our local cultural growth over time. Thank you to everyone that puts blood, sweat and tears into making it happen. 🥰 I decided to take a little time to share what this all <waves hands generally> means to me. Dancing under the stars and on the farms, getting sweaty and silly with friends and strangers, dressing up, showing up a bit bigger and bolder than usual (and closer to who I really am). For me, it comes down to this: I am seeking ritual, and I am seeking belonging. And these moments, these weekends, these hugs, these sunrises on the dance floor, are part of how I find them. To me it feels like the default world, western capitalist hegemony doesn’t make much room for ritual. It doesn't really teach people about marking transitions or tending to our longings in communal ways. And I've so appreciative to see people in my community putting time and care into this. From cold water dipping circles to cacao ceremonies, from Dance Temple to late-night fire-side truths, to men's and women's circles, we are building rituals together—sometimes clumsy, sometimes sacred, but always meaningful. These are small acts of collective re-enchantment and a reminder that magic and the mundane are both important (hopefully more and more magic though!) For me, festivals are not just parties, they’re temporary temples. They offer space for play, for presence, and for purposeful connection. I've been to Burning Man multiple times, and I'm curious about Shambhala and Bass Coast, however I have made a conscious decision to prioritize local festivals like Pachena Bay, Otherworld, and next year’s Dance Temple Gathering, because they connect me to the people I live alongside year-round. It just feels "right" to be dancing beside the same people I might run into at the farmers’ market or at a business mixer, or grabbing a coffee. We’re not just co-partiers, we belong to the same community... and to each other.

Hey all, we have plans to create a digital extension of Pachena Bay as well as add some info to the long shot learning lab for those who are interested in knowing more about HOW & WHY we do this work. At the moment that section is fairly dorment aside from some personal writings. As time moves forward we will be looking at ways of offering educational content with different presentions and classes held in this section by any number of people and topics (related to community building and music) Have any of you done much online workshops, classes or other interesting ways to learn indivigally and also as a group digitally? This platform has a decent live hangout where we could enable mic and video for group interaction. We are serious about building this site together and interested in your experiences with digital learning. Good and bad of course.

Mt. Eliah & Long Shot Events Present: With support from: Em.Ash, Re-Sister, N.W.R, Löblová Ring in 2026 with a full-scale dance experience right in the heart of Courtenay. We’re taking over the iconic Native Sons Hall—this beautiful log heritage building—and transforming it into a festival-level dance environment for one massive New Year’s celebration. Expect a night built with intention: World-class production (sound, lights, staging, custom décor) A warm, intimate, high-energy environment designed for connection A full bar and lounge zones Finger foods available for purchase A curated music journey from open to close Doors open early, we go late, and the night is crafted so you can settle in for the full ride—no hopping between venues, no distractions, just a seamless New Year’s experience.

Come together on Boxing Day to dance Christmas off with this stacked lineup! @Jennie Lawrence, Jennee Pleeze has a natural flair for crafting irresistible grooves. She’s ready to take you on a dynamic musical journey with deep basslines, funk, disco, and house that will have you lighting up the dancefloor. Jo Jo Dancer A local favourite on the rise, Jo-Jo brings fresh energy and undeniable love for the music. Jo-Jo has developed a style rooted in deep tech, minimal, and tech house. The Big D’s - Dancefloor domination. When two of Canada's most electrifying talents in electronic music join forces, the result is nothing short of a colossal experience. The Big D's is the dynamic duo of Sleepy and DylPrickle, merging decades of musical prowess and boundless energy to create sets that leave audiences flushed.Together as The Big D's, they deliver a cheeky and exhilarating performance. Expect deep, throbbing beats, playful mixes, and a rhythm that's hard to resist. They're packing a groove so enticing, you'll feel it deep down. Their sets are a tongue-in-cheek celebration of music's power to bring people together, filled with fun that keeps things lively—and that's just the tip. So, brace yourself for a night of dancefloor delights and mischievous melodies. The Big D's are here with a big sound, and even bigger smiles, proving that when it comes to moving a crowd, they deliver in a big way. Tickets here