The music and arts festival that was banned from Sturgeon County in September will now move the party to Penticton, B.C.
Colin Kobza, president of Boonstock Productions, said the decision to move the festival from a site north of Gibbons to another province came after two months of location scouting in Alberta and B.C.
“It’s a bittersweet day,” admitted Kobza. “We’re moving the festival nine hours away and a lot of people aren’t going to be able to make the trip.”
Boonstock’s 2014 edition from Aug. 1 to 3 will be held in the South Okanagan at Skaha Lake.
“We lose a market but we also gain a market. I know the loyal fans of Boonstock will make the trip,” said Kobza, adding the new site will be four hours from Vancouver and five hours from Seattle.
Sturgeon County council banned Boonstock after resident complaints about crime, noise and traffic jams. At peak attendance last summer, the festival drew 11,600 people per day.
Kobza said the transition hasn’t been easy. Because of the move Boonstock will be downsizing its line-up of artists this year.
However with the new site, he said a beach party to celebrate the festival’s 10th anniversary is also in the works.
