Who we are

Arts on the Fly was founded ín 2006 by a group of mothers looking to bring arts and music to our little town and to showcase the region’s beauty and importance in Cariboo history. While the festival has grown over the years, the focus since the pandemic was to help local musicians get back into the swing of things.

As a non-profit society, the board is a volunteer driven initiative funded by local donations and granting bodies.

 

 

Camping & Waste management

Arts on the Fly works with the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society to be a zero waste festival. We strive to be as Waste-Wise as possible. We are dedicated to having minimal impact on the festival grounds so that we can have fun for years to come! Our stellar Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society team collects every kind of refuse for recycling and composting. Watch for and use their labeled bins to do your part. We take pride in leaving no trace.

Camping is free for ticket holders in the field adjacent to the riverside venue. This is a family-oriented area, so please be considerate and keep noise levels down after 9 pm. July is fire season, so no fires anywhere on or around the festival grounds. If you don’t fancy camping, check the Horsefly website for other accommodations.

There is limited parking, so to save space (and the environment!) please carpool if you can. There are no EV chargers in Horsefly, so if you’re bringing an electric vehicle, please make sure it is adequately charged. The closest EV chargers are in Williams Lake, about 72km from Horsefly.

There is no wifi or cell service in Horsefly, so bring cash! There is an ATM at Clarke’s store for emergencies, but it can’t handle high demand.

A tall tree stump has a big orange sign that says "Music festival arts on the fly a celebration of music, art and dance". Above it on the stump is a small white sign that reads "There is a free dump just before you enter town and a blue empties recycling bin in front of the school".

 

 

Three young girls play maraccas on stage.

A chubby baby in a pink shirt and a sun hat giggles as her father moves her hands to the music while sitting on his lap.

At night, a band performs on stage in a blue glow.

 

 

Wheelchair accessibility

Performance venues are wheelchair accessible, and there are accessible washrooms next to Clarke’s General Store and inside the community hall. Any questions or exceptional needs, please contact us ahead of time so we can make your visit as seamless as possible. Also, check out Horsefly’s website, which features lots of information on accessibility in Horsefly. You can also download their accessibility brochure.

A green wheelchair accessible ramp is shown leading into the community hall.

 

 

Vendors

Interested in being a vendor at the festival? Our Vendor Village is open to the general community as well as to festival goers, so the market is well supported. Space is limited, so we advise contacting our vendor coordinator early.     aotf.vendor@gmail.com

Apply as a vendor

 

 

Frequently asked questions

 

Can I bring my dog?

Pets can be a hassle (yes, even yours!) so please don’t bring them to the venues. In the campground or anywhere else in the community, they must be leashed or confined.

Is the river safe to swim in?

The water is too shallow for swimming by the festival area, but folks do splash and wade to cool off. Kids must be closely supervised, of course. Horsefly Lake Provincial Park (about 12 km from town) has a lovely shallow-entry beach.

Can I bring alcohol?

Alcohol is available by the drink through our beer garden. Please do not bring other alcohol into the festival area or carry it on the street. Be discreet if using in the campground.

How bad are the mosquitos?

Hardly noticeable in July.

What kind of food is available at the festival?

Our vendors offer a delicious variety of excellent ethnic and downhome meals and snacks.

Is there wifi and cell service in Horsefly?

There is no wifi or cell service in Horsefly, so bring cash. There is an ATM at Clarke’s store for emergencies, but it can’t handle high demand.

What’s your refund policy for tickets?

If the festival is cancelled, all tickets will be refunded. Otherwise, tickets are non-refundable.

 

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

Arts on the Fly Festival Society is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all members of our community.
As such, we expect participants to respect everyone’s right to enjoy their time with us without fear or harassment.

Any harmful or threatening behaviour — whether verbal, physical or sexual — that is likely to cause offense, fear or
humiliation to any person will not be tolerated. This can include, but is not limited to:
• Racist, sexist or any other derogatory comments directed at another’s identity.
• Any unwanted or unwelcome sexual behavior
• Bullying of any kind

Any activity or behaviour that poses a threat to the comfort or well-being of self or others is unacceptable. This
can include, but is not limited to:
• Excessive intoxication
• Underage consumption of alcohol
• Violence
• Excessive noise in the campground
• Any form of fire in the campground or elsewhere in the community

We rely on being able to hold the festival in the Horsefly Community Hall and the Riverside Park (managed by the
Horsefly River Roundtable on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada). Any rudeness, disrespect or vandalism
toward the community of Horsefly or festival venues is not acceptable. This can include, but is not limited to:
• Damage to vegetation in the riverside park area and campground
• Damage or vandalism to any structures or equipment
• Any form of contamination to the river

We reserve the right to remove anyone who violates our code of conduct from the festival and, in severe cases, to bar any offender from future participation in our events.
If you observe or experience any behaviour that causes concern, please do not hesitate to report it to an Arts on the Fly board member.
We will address the situation as directly as possible.
Onsite security personnel orRCMP may be enlisted when appropriate.

We’re all here to celebrate the arts and community in a safe, welcoming environment. Let’s be kind.