The streets of Wells will be abuzz from June 27 to June 29 as the mountain town will be filled with artists, vendors and visitors ready to experience the first in-person ArtsWells festival since the pandemic.
Last year was supposed to be the festival's return but the Antler Creek Fire caused an evacuation of Wells and the surrounding area in summer of 2024 and the festival was postponed until 2025.
Elyssia Sasaki, the executive director for Island Mountain Arts, said one of the big reasons the date of the event was moved from ArtsWells' usual August to June is in large part because of the fire season.
But she said she's excited for the festival and to see Wells become filled with people ready to experience, music, dance, visual arts, theatre and all things art.
"It's just a really special way to highlight this corridor of the Cariboo and our town, which is pretty artistic in nature, with some art from friends that are new and old," she said. Sasaki is confident people will find things they enjoy at the festival. "You might not think you're really into jazz music or you might not think that you want to listen to a honky tonk band play but the magic of ArtsWells is you'll find of walk in and sit down at a set and then discover your new favourite artist out of that."
The festival will have people coming to Wells from as far as Australia to experience the festivities and enjoy all of the different art that can be fit into the mountain town.
"We also have a really loyal and special audience that lives right here in the Cariboo," Sasaki said.
Sasaki highlighted that without the support of the people of Wells a festival like ArtsWells wouldn't be possible. Five venues will go up around Wells and includes outdoor venues, a theatre, an old church and a historic hall.
"I think a good reason to be excited is that there are incredible Canadian artists and musicians that come to spend their weekend in this special place," she said. "It's exciting to feel a new little community build over the course of the weekend, to say hello to familiar faces, even if just over the course of a weekend."
Artists and vendors who were slated to be part of the 2024 festival are on a priority list to be part of the the 2025 festival.
Ticket sales have already begun and the early bird rates last until March 21. There will be options for camping in Wells and some sites around Barkerville for people who want to stay overnight during the festival. For safety of participants, pets and wildlife, no pets will be allowed at ArtsWells or its campgrounds during the festival.
