So, Squamish was packed with around 17,000 extra people watching more than 50 bands play in a music festival that was mostly problem-free and what seems to be on the mind of a significant number of locals?
Garbage and traffic.
Pictures of Brennan Park littered with trash and abandoned tents were posted all over social media on Sunday, but why on Earth was this a big shock to anyone?
By Monday afternoon, the field was nearly spotless but the point is that at any big event you're going to get that kind of aftermath. Kudos to everyone who helped clean up, but anyone surprised at the mess really needs to get out more.
Sure, it would be great if people cleaned up after themselves, but let's face it - many festival attendees were too drunk or stoned to really worry about littering and that type of thing happens at every big event, from the Festival of Lights in Vancouver to the Pride Parade.
As for the traffic, I agree that was a huge mess but it was basically one evening and it's really up to the powers that be to fix that for next year. Personally, I was in Vancouver on Thursday and had to wait until much later in the evening to return to Squamish. It was definitely inconvenient but certainly not the end of the world.
The same issue occurred with the GranFondo in the past and after one year of pure horror, everything has run smoothly since.
Locals can complain about how it's all these outsiders and Vancouverites taking over our town for a weekend full of debauchery and while there may be some truth in that, the fact is that I ran into hundreds of Squamish residents having the time of their lives at the festival.
While walking to the photographer's pit before Macklemore hit the stage, I was amazed at all the Squamish residents in the front row yelling "The Chief." Sure, they may not know my name but that was proof that there is significant local interest in this event.
And aside from the obvious financial and tourism benefits to the event, it gives Squamish youth something to look forward to. I recognized so many high-school-aged or recently graduated Squamish residents and this is their big event of the summer.
The adults get Test of Metal, GranFondo, Loggers Sports and others - but SVMF is a chance for local youth to let loose and have a good time. And that is something worth investing in.
