Outside the Folk Festival

Folk Fest is a good time and all, but seriously you shouldn't spend the whole freakin' weekend inside a gated community. And for the multitudes who don't feel like forking out $50 for the day, why not just hang out at the outskirts? The black market which annually crops up outside the fest is an event of its own, where entrepreneurs set up camp for a three day black market of art, massage, Thai scarves, palm readings, and whatever other hippyish knick knacks you migght crave. I actually saw some super styley New York-ish t-shirt prints, which rather surprised me.

Anyhow, the music sneaks right past the chain link fence, stretching out to the waves who just lap it up. Spanish banks gets pretty hopping with festival goers who want to take a dip and anyone who wants a little background music and cultcha with their day of sun and sand.

The particularly cool thing about the market itself is that it's an illegal black market that the city turns a blind eye to, year after year (knock on wood). People from as far as Nelson come to throw down a tent in whatever prime spots are left, and camp there overnight to do their own security. I should've counted, but for now I'd guess there were ...50? booths/retailers hangin' out. Basically, anyone who wanted to come out, came out. Some people complained that too many people were selling their wares compared to last year. Well suck it up, buddy; that's what happens when you jump into an unregulated market.

As my friend said, "This is the real culture: out here, not in there." Yes, there's definitely that grass roots feeling which isn't terribly evident inside the gates. And definitely way more of a hippy scene. A bangin' drum circle here, people dancing on the beach there, and more dreadlocks than you ever see on Commercial Drive woo woo. At any rate, there's something egalitarian about the scene; people trying to make a few dollars in the least bureacratic way.

Funny how something that's both capitalist and illegal still seems more honest than anything Robson has to offer.

Happy note: the large majority of market sellers also gave donations to the festival.

photo courtesy of Folkfestfan on www.flickr.com.