Festivals are back in Northern BC. Musicians and party-goers alike rejoiced when COVID-19 restrictions lifted in July of this year to allow large groups to convene outdoors (called "BC Restart").

With that news, event planners went into high gear and the North and Interior of British Columbia saw a number of new and returning festivals announce dates and ticket sales.

Last week, CICK shared the Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society's decades-long Midsummer Music Festival return (Sept. 10 and 11 in Smithers, BC) and this week we are looking at Parrot Fest.

Parrot Fest was a small but mighty festival fundraiser held on the re-occupied Wet'suwet'en yintah at Round Lake.

This event was organized by Sim Wilson, a 23-year-old Wet'suwet'en woman whose family and community lives in the village of Parrot Lake. The idea of Parrot Fest came up quickly and Wilson launched the idea, poster, and call out for performers two weeks prior to the event.

In an interview with CICK News, Wilson said "the funds [raised] will go toward Parrot Lake construction and operations of Parrot Lake."

Listen to Pam Haasen's interview with Sim Wilson below: