Finally, some music action in Elphinstone! Remember the days when we had nothing but our gorgeous beaches and pumpkin patches for hanging out? I got into plenty of trouble growing up here in the name of keeping myself entertained. What we have needed in Elphinstone for so long is a communal space to socialize, young and old, with some entertainment. Unlike the other areas of the regional district, we have very few shops, no post office, and lack a central hub for spontaneous neighbourly run-ins. Area E is lucky to have two incredible cideries, and this summer Sunday Cider has launched Live on the Grass, where every Friday evening they kick off a free concert. Their beautiful picnic area at the base of Mount Elphinstone is amongst the trees and a great place to connect with your community.
Recently, the musician Sam Chimes got the crowd going with a full-on dance-off that was a ton of fun and wild to watch. Winners were given ice cream sandwiches, which was absolutely worth shaking your booty for. Did you miss it? Don’t worry, there’s lots of talent coming up every Friday there. July 14, Noah Fine from Vancouver will be bringing a Beatles and Fleetwood Mac vibe with both originals and covers. On July 28, the very entertaining and positive hip hop emcee, Estea Elements, is playing Live on the Grass. Kids and adults love this guy. He even teaches people how to rap. Local bass legend Arista will be there Aug. 4, and our Gambier Island hero, Estelle Honeywell, rocks the lawn Sept. 1. The final show of this summer series is Sept. 15, and features Malcolm (from World Image) and Erin (stand up comedian, who has music featured in movies) who will wrap up this season of music.
You can, of course, grab a flight of cold Sunday Ciders, but there’s lots of non-boozy options too. Did you know Sunday Cider is home to Smitty’s food truck? You can skip the line up in Lower G and come to Area E for their tacos, sliders, and halibut fritters. Sunday Cider is also one of the home bases for Little Spoon Ice Cream, made here on the Sunshine Coast and highlighting ingredients made and grown locally. All their flavours are deadly, but I’m currently all about the Peanut Butter Fudge and the Miso Caramel. They also donate a percentage of sales to Sunshine Coast Community Services, so you can feel good about downing your pint of ice cream on the lawn.
I feel like our cideries are nailing it as the spot for locals to come out and meet each other in the wild. I definitely appreciate these engaging events where all are welcome – including pups and teenagers.
I would love to hear feedback, take suggestions on topics, and hear from all 3,883 residents of Elphinstone. Email me at [email protected].
