Music festival at Ruby Lake Resort

BAILA LAZARUS

Billed as British Columbia's newest festival, Bonfire is a three-day celebration of arts, culture, food and nature on the Sunshine Coast. And it all happens next weekend at Ruby Lake Resort.

Run by the Cogrossi family for more than a decade, the resort has become synonymous with relaxation, friendly service, world-class cuisine and wildlife preservation. Located just over an hour's drive up the Sunshine Coast from Gibsons, it offers accommodations ranging from large, basic tents overlooking the lake to lagoon cottages to deluxe, romantic suites. Not satisfied with simply offering 90 acres of swimming, hiking, fishing, canoeing and even spa treatments, Giorgio Cogrossi added the 250-seat Spirit of the Rainforest Amphitheatre.

With the catchphrase "Nature as an expression of art" as the amphitheatre's motto, Cogrossi is expecting 20 musical acts for Bonfire, along with art installations, painting, drumming and craft workshops, yoga classes, belly dancing, vegetarian (and other) cuisine and even a parade. It takes place June 17-19. To get to Ruby Lake, take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay or Nanaimo to Langdale on the Sunshine Coast. Follow Highway 101 for about 75 minutes. Gates open Friday at noon and the last performance runs into early Monday morning. A weekend pass ($75 to $95) includes camping and parking. Day passes are $25 to $30. Visit www.bonfirefestival.com or www.rubylakeresort.com for more information. For reservations, call 800-717-6611 or 604-883-2269.

Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and illustrator living in Vancouver.

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