Despite uncertainty around the Highway 4 road closure, the 33rd Annual Okee Dokee Slo-Pitch Tournament & Funtastic Music Festival this weekend isn’t expecting any cancellations—in fact, the event has a waitlist.
Funtastic Alberni executive director Paul Robertson said the two-week highway closure was a concern, but “we haven’t had one team cancel.”
The Okee Dokee tournament from July 1-3 is restricted to 80 teams because that’s all the field space that is available, Robertson said. “We sold out earlier this year than any other year. We have 12 teams (on the waiting list) that want to come and play but we don’t have the fields,” he said.
“We have the best fields on the Island, we just don’t have the room.”
The games start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning with all 12 fields in play all weekend. Close to 1,200 players will be in town looking to get in on the action. Nine teams are signed up for the costume contest portion of the weekend, and there will be a concession, beer gardens, 50/50 draws and more.
The music festival portion of the weekend takes place at Bob Dailey Stadium on the evenings of July 1 and 2, with six bands over two nights. Wristbands for the event are still available, said Robertson.
“We’ve got 2,000; I know we’ve sold 1,000 so there’s lots to go,” he said on Friday, June 23.
Saturday, July 1 features Sibling Rivalry, Boondock and headliners The County Line. Sunday, July 2 kicks off with local artist Madi Duncan & The Amateur Hour opening for Shagster, followed by the headliner Honeymoon Suite.
“This is a great community event with 100 percent of the profits being donated to local charities,” said Robertson. Funtastic Alberni has donated more than $180k to charities over the past eight years.
Wristbands for the music festival are available at Cloverdale Paints and Trends Design for $30 cash. The event program can be found at www.funtasticalberni.com.