It’s a long-standing truism among touring musicians who’ve criss-crossed the map over the years, doing everything from one-nighters to two-week engagements back in the day when live music was king.

“Small town, but they really know how to party,” is how the saying goes, and it was probably used to describe every burg from east coast to west.

Speaking of Castlegar, the saying cuts a bit of ice. Few, if any occasions around here are allowed to elapse without some sort of wing-ding. We’ve got the Spring Fling, the Kootenay and Bluegrass Festivals, the Pass Creek Fall Fair, Winterfest… and Sunfest, the party held each year on the first weekend in June.

Nicole Beetstra is the first-year president of the Castlegar Sunfest Committee, and she was most pleased to accept, on behalf of the commiittee, a cheque in the amount of $15,000 from Mayor Chernoff on Friday.

Big things are planned for the event Beetstra says keeps getting bigger and better every year. An infusion of capital like the one forked over by the City of Castlegar goes a long way toward keeping that growth happening.

“It’s definitely a big reason why Sunfest is allowed to continue,” said the president at City Hall that afternoon.

“Of course everyone who takes part and helps out is very much appreciated,” said Beetstra, “but the city is the biggest contributor to Sunfest.”

With ball tournaments, live bands (this year the hugely popular BC/DC, and Beatles tribute act Fab Forever) a Sunfest event at Element Club plus more than 40 vendors lined up to take their positions in Kinsmen Park.

Sunfest is surely something special for Castlegar and all our close neighbours, and it’s clearly something the local government is happy to support.

“I think it’s a premier attraction for the community,” said Mayor Chernoff. “There’s really no other way to express it. You feel it when you’re out there. It’s such a vibrant feeling… all the kids… the parade, the fireworks… to me it really builds community spirit.”

Castlegar… not the biggest place around, but as the saying goes… we really know how to party!

The weather channel says the Sunfest weekend has a good chance of being nice. Let’s hope so!