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Visiting a slice of Europe

This July long weekend, we are heading west up Highway 16 to the charming little town of Smithers for their annual Midsummer Music Festival. I say charming because that's what I've heard. Here is my confession: I haven't ever been to Smithers.
Megan Kuklis

This July long weekend, we are heading west up Highway 16 to the charming little town of Smithers for their annual Midsummer Music Festival.

I say charming because that's what I've heard.

Here is my confession: I haven't ever been to Smithers.At least, from what I remember, I may have been driven through Smithers once on the way to Terrace for a B.C.-wide sports tournament for indoor soccer back in high school. When you are a teen who plays a lot of sports, you get to travel by bus or by mini-van to many of the smaller communities in the region.However, you are a teen in a sports tournament so your remembrance of the individual communities are faint and largely filtered through the lens of a hormone-enriched landscape populated by young and athletic boys.

That being said, for the purposes of actually visiting a town, I can safely say that I have never been to Smithers.Here's the embarrassing part: I have family there who regularly come and visit us in Prince George and we have never returned the favour.

In my defense, up until about twenty minutes ago when I looked it up, I was under the impression that Smithers was a six-hour drive.It turns out, Smithers is only about four hours away.Sometimes driving in the car for six hours with two children under the age of five seems like a recipe for a migraine, however four hours is much more doable.The more I talk to people about my impending trip, the more that I meet people who absolutely adore Smithers.One person that I talked to called Smithers "Little Switzerland." Being that I have never been to Switzerland (or Smithers), I am very pleased that I get to visit a slice of Europe in our northern backyard.

The Midsummer Music Festival is hosted by the Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society and is known as a family-friendly festival for folks who like music.The performers list has a good mix of regional and local talent and headliners including William Kuklis (my obvious favourite), Kym Gouchie, Doug Koyama, Samson's Delilah, Mark Perry and Wooden Horsemen.

There will be a good mix of music, workshops and activities for children and adults alike.As we are heading to the festival for the first time and we don't quite know what to expect, I was very pleased to see all of the kid-friendly activities.Admission is very reasonable ($65 per adult for a weekend pass and $150 for a family) and it makes a nice weekend away to try something different. For more information about the festival, visit www.smithersmusicfest.com.

I am looking forward to visiting Smithers (and my fantastic cousins) and the music festival and we are excited about a new adventure. There are so many wonderful things to do in this region all summer.I hope to try them all.