Jamboree sites get finishing touches
If you’re going to have an inflatable pool at your Craven campsite, you might as well get a couple of plastic mallard ducks to bob about in there as well.
Before the water truck comes, though, there’s a fair chance those ducks are going to be lying on their side, looking decidedly dead.
“We’re trying to get some more ducks to come, but it hasn’t worked yet,” laughed Chade Kozak, one hand on his hip, the other curled around a beer. “We’re hoping.” Kozak, a 10-year festival veteran and Archerwill resident, was standing with a group of six buddies in what was rapidly becoming their toy-filled Craven campsite on Sunday, working out the kinks in the Astroturf and dragging a Christmas tree — complete with beer-can decorations — out into the hot sun.
“The slide is the big innovation this year,” he said, pointing to a bright yellow curve of plastic on the ground.
It was also a point of contention at the campsite — and the only bad words Kozak had to say about the festival.
“They’re not letting us put it up,” he said.
“It’s like they’re trying to stop us being creative, but you’ve only got to look around to see all the things people do — it makes Craven what it is. If they kill that, they’ll kill the festival.”
As Kozak and his buddies discussed the slide with security, a group of three recent Riffel High School grads were a couple of campsites over, in the minority as they set up a tent — or at least, tried to.
“We’ve been trying for too long,” laughed Alexis Nelson, fighting with a tent pole.
“I just hope once we get it put up it doesn’t blow away, because they’re saying there might be thunderstorms on Thursday.”
Despite the threat of a storm, Nelson and her friend Anna Slobodzian prefer to call Craven home for the week rather than take the bus or drive from Regina each day.
“That way, you can wake up and just have fun,” explained Slobodzian.
“We’re also closer to the music here.” Ah yes, the music. Pumping into the air through truck windows and being blasted camper radios, music is what the jamboree is all about.
For Regina’s Tanner Stienwand and his friends, it’s specifically Alan Jackson who’s top of the list.
“Some people don’t like country music and just come here for the party, but we love country music,” Stienwand said, sitting on the top of his camper.
Stienwand has three more days of work and then will head back out to the campsite.
So why come out on Sunday and set up so early?
“Because we’ve gotta get the best spot,” he laughed.
“We’ve got an awesome area set up here, we’re right in the middle of the heat of things — it’s going to be awesome.”
Jesse Rocheleau, also perched on top of the van, often comes out to set things up early.
“I’ve never seen so few number of campers here on the first Sunday,” he said.
“I’m actually surprised you can still buy tickets.”
The Craven Country Music Jamboree kicks off Wednesday night, with the first acts taking to the Main Stage on Thursday at 1 p.m.