The Frog Mountain Music Festival is back after a one-year hiatus.
That may come as a surprise to even some of the festival’s most dedicated fans.
“It’s funny, when you ask people they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, I was at the Frog last year,’ said Lara Grant, president of the society that organizes the event.
“People don’t really seem to realize that we took a year off. Everybody pretty much thinks that they were there last year.”
With the whirlwind of short Yukon summers, who could blame them for failing to keep track?
Yukon’s newest and tiniest musical celebration is back, and promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The festival began in 2010 with a few friends and an idea.
The idea was simply that Bill and Barbara Drury’s Circle D Ranch north of Whitehorse would make a cool venue for a music festival, said Grant.
The focus was simply local - local music, local food, local families.
After successful events in 2010 and 2011, the board decided to take a break in 2012 because of issues securing funding.
This year, those funding issues remain, but the board wouldn’t use that as an excuse to cancel the festival again, said Grant.
“We buckled down and just said, ‘We’re going to make it happen.’”
And despite the event’s short history, it already feels like a mainstay of the Yukon summer lineup.
This year the board hopes to attract 500 people, said Grant.
Past festivals have hit about 300, she said.
Tiring out the little ones will be one of the main objectives of Saturday’s daytime activities, beginning at 11 a.m.
At noon there will be a scavenger hunt and obstacle course, and at 2 p.m. there will be a pudding-eating contest.
The kids’ tent will be decorated like a giant cupcake, so young folk can easily find their way to the fun.
Music runs from 11 a.m. Saturday into the wee hours of Sunday morning, featuring exclusively local talent.
Youth bands will take the early shift, and have a second chance to showcase their talent a little later in the evening.
The music is going to transition from bluesy stuff, to Celtic, to heavier stuff later at night, said Grant.
She couldn’t choose a single act she was most eager to see.
“We didn’t really pick a headliner this year, we just have a lot of really awesome bands.”
Festival goers are encouraged to stay the night, and camping is included with the $40 ticket.
“It’s very camping friendly. A lot of groups come together and make it a family event for the weekend.
“My crew, we’re deep-frying a turkey and we have about eight of us camping together.”
On Sunday from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., there will be a pancake breakfast and acoustic music.
Barbara Drury is in charge of the food for the weekend.
“Her food is Circle D Ranch homegrown and raised,” said Grant. “Burgers are beef from the ranch, and pretty much all the vegetables are coming right out of her garden.”
There will also be a beer garden and lots of arts and crafts vendors, said Grant.
Tickets for this weekend’s festival are available at Triple J’s Music Cafe and at North Star Mini Storage.
If they do not sell out, they will also be available at the festival grounds on Saturday.
“We know Yukoners like to make last-minute decisions, so we’re not going to stop them from coming in at the gate.”
The Frog Mountain Music Festival’s Facebook page is the best place to get up-to-date information on the tickets and schedule, or to get in contact with the organizers.
Circle D Ranch is located off the Alaska Highway about 20 minutes north of Whitehorse.
It will be well-signed on Saturday morning, and the colourful festival tents should be visible from the highway.
Contact Jacqueline Ronson at
jronson@yukon-news.com