Shambhala has spent nearly three decades building its reputation on world-class electronic music, breathtaking stage design, and as a blank canvas for self-expression.But as 50,000 ravers returned to Salmo River Ranch from July 24-27 for another marathon weekend of music and camaraderie, the best thing the festival produced this year wasn’t a set.
Ad 0:00 Click for sound 0:00 / 0:00 “Welcome home” is the time-honored greeting for returning and first-time Shambhala attendees.It may sound like empty, cookie-cutter corporate poppycock in most settings, but Shambhala isn’t most places.
The kindness culture carefully molded over three decades was put to the test last weekend.When the music stopped and an attendee needed help, the festival community showed what “Shambhalove” really means.
Upon leaving the campgrounds on Tuesday, traffic control volunteers handed out flyers to guests.These weren’t promotional pamphlets for afterparties or next year’s festival.
These were alerts about a missing woman, Kayla Boisvert, who’d attended Shambhala.A short, genuine conversation accompanied her photo. There were many kindnesses exhibited at Shambhala: welcoming neighbours, empathetic staff and spontaneous friends made throughout the weekend.
But nothing illuminates the festival’s culture, one built by every organizer, volunteer and attendee, more than how everyone mobilized to find Boisvert.Social media feeds were flooded by friends and acquaintances amplifying the search and providing updates, and the effort blossomed into a community outreach that stretched beyond The Farm’s physical and spiritual boundaries.
The EDM community at large came together to magnify reach and donate money to the recovery effort.The outcome: Boisvert was found by local search-and-rescue teams and safely reunited with her family.
Few things are as important as family.Sometimes it’s the family y...