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Setting the stage

Pemberton Festival organizers launch volunteer program, hit three-quarter mark in ticket, camping sales
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Counting Down Coldplay is just one of the many acts coming to the area to perform during Pemberton Festival this July

The clock is ticking, and in just under three months, tens of thousands of people will flock to Pemberton July 25-27 to take part in the area’s first three-day outdoor music festival, with performances by more than 50 artists and bands.

In the meantime, organizers are working diligently to sort out a massive list of logistical details, which includes revising and finalizing their site plans, hiring employees, and recruiting an army of volunteers to make the inaugural event a success.

If you’re willing to lend a helping hand to get the first Pemberton Festival off the ground, you just may be able to snag a free pass to enjoy the show.

Live Nation, the company organizing Pemberton Festival, just launched its volunteer recruitment program late last week, hiring Pemberton resident Stephanie Coughlin to spearhead recruitment efforts. The company is looking for about 500 people to help out with everything from directing traffic to clean-up duties.

“We really hope that lots of locals come out and volunteer, because it’s going to be a great way to experience the festival and get in for free in exchange for some good work,” said Shane Bourbonnais, President of North American Touring and Business Development for Live Nation.

While Live Nation has already received inquiries about the volunteer opportunities from all over the world, the company plans to give preference to local candidates.

“When people come to the Pemberton Festival, they travel from a long ways away,” said Bourbonnais. “We want them to be welcomed by really enthusiastic volunteers that are people that love the area, people that are knowledgeable about the area.”

People interested in being considered for a volunteer position need to go to www.pembertonfestival.com and fill out an application form by June 16. Successful candidates will be notified by June 30.

Live Nation has also recently nailed down the details of their shuttle service, which aims to minimize traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The shuttle will run from Whistler to the concert site in Pemberton, with shuttles departing between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and returning between 10:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. each day.

Three-day shuttle passes are $90, and are available online at www.pemfestshuttle.com .

Organizers are also planning to include a water system in the festival village market area, so people can fill up water bottles, rather than purchase bottled water. They are also working on securing local talent to perform during the festival.

“We’re going to be making an announcement, probably in the next week or two… that we’ve signed up a bunch of the local DJs to play in the B-Live Tent,” said Bourbonnais.

The festival site, located at the foot of Mount Currie on the Ravens Crest property of Area C, has a capacity of around 40,000 people. Tickets went on sale at the end of March and have far exceeded organizer’s expectations, nearing the 30,000 mark already.

“Ticket sales are ahead of where we ever thought they would be,” said Bourbonnais, adding that he had only originally thought they would sell 25,000 tickets.

“Sales are really steady — we’re on our way,” he said. “This event will sell out, which is fantastic.”

Camping spots are also selling rapidly, with more than 16,000 of the 20,000 spots sold.

“When we went on sale, we had no idea how the campground would sell, because at European festivals, camping is a big part of it,” Bourbonnais said, adding that they weren’t sure if Canadian audiences would follow the same trends.

“We’re stoked because the campground is going to be awesome. Camping at the festival will be a really great experience.”

Festival-goers who choose to carpool to Pemberton will receive free spots in a preferential parking lot if their vehicles are full. Once they park their cars, they will be shuttled to one of the 10-foot by 10-foot campsites, which will be arranged into three large pods, each with a central station for concessions, washrooms and medical facilities.

“It’s like a little downtown in each neighborhood,” Bourbonnais explained.

While the campgrounds will be fun, organizers are also placing an emphasis on safety, hiring 100 RCMP officers and additional private security. They’re also prohibiting outside alcohol to help prevent over-consumption.

“We want people to drink where they should be drinking, so people can actually go back to their tents and it’s not a gongshow,” Bourbonnais explained.

Even in the planning stages, the upcoming festival has meant big business for the region. So far, the festival has garnered attention from publications like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Spin Magazine, and will soon be featuring in Rolling Stone and Maxim.

“Everyone’s kind of rolling through Pemberton now, coming and looking at stuff, and everybody’s sizing everything up,” said Bourbonnais. “…This morning I had our guy from our merchandise company in Los Angeles come up and I took him on the site and he looked at me and just goes, ‘oh boy, this is good.’”

According to Bourbonnais, Pemberton accommodations are already booked solid, and Whistler hotels are starting to fill up.

“In a first year, it’s never easy, but it’s coming together, and it’s going to be something really great.”