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Farmers' market, MusicFest collaborating on transportation

The Comox Valley Farmers' Market and MusicFest are collaborating on food, music and transportation.
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SINGER-SONGWRITER and MusicFest MC Helen Austin (centre

The Comox Valley Farmers' Market and MusicFest are collaborating on food, music and transportation.

For years the market and MusicFest have shared the same ground over this busy weekend, providing locals and visitors alike with the opportunity to sample the wares of local farmers and take in the lineup at the Vancouver Island Music Festival.

The market and its farmers squeeze into their regular spot Saturday morning amongst the sea of MusicFest patrons at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds next door, hoping that the regular market-goers make the same effort, and some of the thousands of visitors to this annual festival stop by on their way in.

This year they’ve built in some extra incentive to visit the market — Nathan Rogers will perform on the Farmers' Market Stage from 9:30 to 11.

A favourite at folk festivals across Canada and beyond, Rogers is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, throat-chanter, percussionist, revivalist, and innovator. His performance style leaves the audiences wondering where the rest of the band is hiding.

Singing, chanting, playing the guitar and stomping, he fills any stage with “magnificent powerfully clear lyrics and arrangements.” Described as ‘intelligent and witty’, Rogers will move men and women to tears with his sound and conviction.

Each week, each of the market vendors donate an item from their stand to the ‘wheelbarrow’ and the performers take this home as their payment for entertaining the crowds. This week, the wheelbarrow of food will go to the feed the hungry musicians backstage at MusicFest.

And for those of you who would like to avoid the parking challenge that comes with visiting the Market during this fabulous festival, you can hop on the Destiny River Festival Express to get to the market.

The Destiny River Festival Express travels a three-stop route starting at North Island College at 8:30 a.m.

Your pickup options are:

1. North Island College on Ryan Road (look for the signs in the parking lot);

2. Driftwood Mall (next to Zellers/Target);

3. Old House Village Suites;

4. Comox Valley Farmers' Market (MusicFest) site.

The express runs continually from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. and all are welcome to use it to access the farmers' market. The shuttle service costs $2 per person per trip and kids under 12 are free.

Please note the bus is not wheelchair- or buggy-accessible but you are totally welcome to bring extra festival gear such as folded buggies, knapsacks and chairs that take up extra space.

The dropoff and pickup location at the festival site is the bus loop in front of the farmers' market site on Headquarters Road.

— Comox Valley Farmers' Market