Following a wildly successful North Star Days the previous weekend, Kimberley Alpine Resort pulled out all the stops for their annual season ending celebration: Spring Splash and the Dummy Downhill, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7.
Despite chilly, dreary weather on Saturday, roughly 200 brave souls signed up to take the plunge, sailing down into icy waters adorned with a dazzling array of costumes, much to the delight of the crowd of hundreds gathered at the resort.
Following the sensational spectacle that is the pond skim, Fernie’s Shred Kelly took to the stage. Now becoming household names around the Kootenays and beyond, the indie folk rockers continue to tighten their sound and played a fantastic set that had the whole crowd moving.
Sunday began with music from local musicians Lennan Delaney and Oliver McQuaid. McQuaid played guitar and percussion and Delaney switched between the guitar, fiddle and mandolin as the talented duo played through dozens of folk favourites and even a few originals.
The always-entertaining Dummy Downhill began at 2 p.m. and, as always, was a big hit. Dozens of creatively crafted dummies sailed off the jump to their ultimate demise, just some perhaps a bit more efficiently than others.
To top off the weekend and the season, Kimberley Alpine Resort welcomed local legends The Honeymans to the stage, their first time gig in over 20 years. In the band’s own eloquent words, “the music carries the weight of two decades of anticipation and the joy of rediscovery.”
The excitement from fans of the band and from the bandmates themselves was truly palpable. Fans sung along and danced hard to the blistering punk rockers, who’s enthusiasm to be playing together was infectious. Numerous fans in the crowd brought their young children to the show to introduce them to one of Kimberley’s all time great bands. A more perfect performance to shut down the season is hard to imagine.
Until next winter.