FAYSTON — Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Pink Talking Fish will join a host of other musicians, brewers and artists on the slopes of Mt. Ellen, at Bear North, a new festival in Fayston, on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2-3.
“We are hoping for the best kind of sensory overload,” said Meg Schultz, Bear North Event Coordinator. “Folks should plan on a fun weekend full of music, beer, art and community.”
Bear North is the newest event from Schultz, who owns Meg’s Events, and is known for her work on SIPtemebest, the Waterbury Arts Fest and more. “I’ve wanted to bring a weekend festival to the Mad River Valley forever,” she said. “I want to create a festival atmosphere that is familiar and easy going with good beer, like SIP, but with more live music and artwork — and camping.”
Oh and it’s family friendly, and focused on art, too.
“People can get their hands dirty and get directly involved or just sit back and appreciate the creativity,” said Natasha Bogar, Bear North Art Director.
Activities will include tie-dying t-shirts, getting henna tattoos and an interactive art wall for people to leave their mark. En plein air artists will be live painting on the grounds and there will be at least two sessions of the popular Paint & Pint — guided painting workshops.
In addition to the Paint & Pint Sessions, beer will be available in cans and on tap all weekend. The Can Tent and the Bear Garden & Bar will give people the chance to choose from a steady selection of beer from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Four Quarters Brewing, Zero Gravity Craft Beer and Boreale.
The two-day event showcases a live music line up with headliner Pink Talking Fish, known for fusing together the music of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish. The line up will include Funky Dawgz Brass Band and Sophistafunk and also be heavy with Vermont favorites such as Soule Monde, Seth Yacavone Band, Lowell Thompson, Mad Mountain Scramblers and others.
Bear North attendees can make a weekend out of it and take advantage of free slopeside camping. Limited car-camping is also available for free with an online reservation. There will be food trucks, artist vendors and more.
Tickets are now on sale, including weekend and single day options, and a kids rate. For more information, visit bearnorthvt.com.