Astral Harvest — A Surprisingly Awesome Time in Alberta!

2 weeks ago, I decided last minute to attend a festival in Northern Alberta called Astral Harvest. Having heard all of the rumours about Alberta and the people there, I did not expect much other than large trucks and arrogant attitudes. I was pleasantly surprised that this small Albertan Festival of approximately 4000 spirited, fun loving individuals had some of the best attitudes and most positive vibes that I have ever found in all of my years of festivalling around the world.

Years ago, I remember hearing rumours of Astral Harvest and how the owners are quickly growing this festival by using all proceeds to add to the festival experience and boy does it show. The main stage with the larger than large name Interstellevator was something that you would expect at a massive festival like EDC or ULTRA and not this little field in rural northern Alberta, Canada. The lazers and lightshow was out of this world and you could see them shooting off out into space all night long. It really added immensely to the experience.

Also, memorable was the layout of this festival. It seemed just perfect for a small festival having everything so close but also divided enough that each experience was a completely separate spectacle.

The main stage was just below camping and was a great entry into the festival action from your camping space with many people spinning poi, fire, busking, dancing, hooping, and just blowing peoples minds by showing off years of using various glowing items.

Once you pass through the mainstage, you enter the vendor areas which was like a little festival down town supermarket where they sold so many different kinds of festival clothing, toys, jewellery, art, henna. There was also an amazing field next to the vendors with things like a playground, a cuddle puddle snoozle room equipped with a massive teddy bear and even a 4 player mario kart for nintendo 64.

The Manour was a great stage off with a sandy dance floor and was just a 3 minute walk through some trees from the clothing section of the vendor areas. It opened up with an HIGHLY anticipated Funk Bunker Showcase which was put on by Edmonton’s Drum n Bass Community. Look up YEGDNB or Funk Bunker for more information on them. Highly recommended!

Further down the vendors was a stage called “The Market.” Yes!! There REALLY was a stage right in the middle of the vendors!! They were quite known for having some banging house music pretty much all of the time for you to dance to while your friends are grabbing a bite or checking out some custom art being painted right next door.

There is another awesome stage that went by the name of the Wakachan which was just below the permanently structured, quite reasonably priced general store. It was the small things like this store, that really rekindled hope in life that some people just truely care about others. As far as the Wakachan goes, it was basically the hub for us oldschool ravers. There was endless amounts of filthy drum n bass with some well known DJs such as MARTEN HØRGER & SkiiTour playing all of the old and new classics.

On a hot Saturday afternoon, I stumbled past a large group of campers giving out pie during a pie parade and then followed some loud bass music towards the “Mystic Beach” stage. This small stage had large sound and a decent sized crowd alongside a nice river full of swimming festival goers and people lounging around in chairs and boats having a great time.

This festival site was one of the best laid out sites I have ever seen. Not only were the stages, market and camp site laid out perfectly, but there is an awesome river that flows all around the festival. This allows you to bring a floaty / rubber dingy / boat and float down from one side of the festival all the way around to the other side where the Mystic Beach is sure to be Thumpin!

Overall, it was a stellar group of individuals who all were there to fully enjoy themselves and do their part to contribute to the festival culture and making sure everybody else enjoys themselves as well. I did not see one instance of bad vibes and everybody was having a good time. For the festival attendees, this is their first festival of the year and many are planning to also attend Motion Notion in Golden, BC and then Shambhala in Nelson, BC. I will see you all there!! PLUR FAM!~!!!

Edit: This article was originally written on July 13, 2016 and has since been taken from my website and hosted on this new medium ;)

Also, I look forward to going back to Astral this coming summer! I hope to see you there!!! ❤

Also, please check out these awesome pics from last year!!

They bring back all of the feels! ❤❤❤