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If you want to see a one mile-long party rise up out of the road but don鈥檛 want the side-effects of hallucinogenic drugs, head for West 4th this Saturday at 6am.
That鈥檚 when the 鈥淩oad Closed鈥� signs go up between Burrard and MacDonald and the begins to take shape. Stages will be built, food trucks parked and primed, patios and beer gardens assembled, climbing walls erected and pedal-powered smoothie blenders installed (really).
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to shut down a 10-block street and activate it so quickly 鈥� It sounds like a lot of time until you pack all of those things in,鈥� says Jane McFadden, executive director of the .
Led by McFadden, the organizers are squeezing as many activities as possible into the 1.7-kilometre stretch of avenue before it opens to the public at 11am.
In these tough times for independent stores in 麻豆传媒映画鈥� which are facing the triple threat of online shopping, big-box retail and soaring rent 鈥� the BIA wants festivalgoers to be thoroughly entertained at Khatsahlano so they鈥檒l come back to shop on West 4th.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 about showcasing what West 4th is all about,鈥� McFadden says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way for people who may not frequent the area to see. 鈥� It鈥檚 a great spot, it鈥檚 a great summer destination for the day.鈥�
If its aim is to draw more people to the area, Khatsahlano, now in its seventh year, is doing pretty damn well. An estimated 150,000 are likely to show up on Saturday to the 10 blocks of car-free pavement.
Awaiting them are 50 bands, almost exclusively from the Lower Mainland, playing over eight stages; 50 food trucks all parked on one block; beer gardens; a kids stage featuring Bobs and LoLo; and (perhaps most importantly), the return of the world鈥檚 largest beanbag.
The avenue鈥檚 merchants will be active up and down the entire street 鈥� with some of the more interesting displays including an RYU Apparel obstacle course and a Patagonia climbing wall 鈥� while the new West 4th Living Stage will highlight local businesses and include a yoga class by Semperviva, a Pure Barre demonstration, fashion shows and demonstrations by local chefs and mixologists.
The bands remain the biggest lure for many. This year鈥檚 festival boasts another impressive lineup curated (with some help) by owner Grant McDonagh, who listened to around 200 hopefuls during the selection process.
McDonagh, who founded Zulu back in 1981, was instrumental in beginning the Khatsahlano festival, which rose out of the incense ashes of a Summer of Love anniversary bash in 2007.
While there are no Mamas and Papas cover bands anymore, McDonagh says a sense of and spirit has endured in Khatsahlano.
鈥淚t was about trying to cement what was there, this very creative group of people that were on the avenue in the 鈥�60s, 鈥�70s and 鈥�80s and continue to be.鈥�
The Kits hippies haven鈥檛 moved away, McFadden confirms. They鈥檝e just changed, man. Not that that鈥檚 a bad thing.
鈥淭here鈥檚 that health and wellness, the amount of people doing yoga and exercising, and the organic juiceries. I think [they鈥檝e] just evolved into a different type of hippie, if that sounds right. They鈥檙e taking care of themselves and they鈥檙e happy to support their local community.鈥�
At the same time, there is a sense that West 4th is a little overlooked these days compared to, say, the neighbourhoods of East Van, where a mix of gentrification, craft breweries and a burgeoning cultural scene have created the most buzzing region in the city.
鈥淚n some ways it got a little tired. 鈥� Just like anything, it changes,鈥� McDonagh says. 鈥淪o maybe 4th Avenue was stuck in the past a little long.鈥�
But whether it鈥檚 West 4th, Commercial or Denman, it鈥檚 clear that small businesses everywhere are facing a constant challenge to survive.
鈥淎s a BIA we have to be creative with our ideas to drive people to the brick-and-mortar shops in our neighbourhood,鈥� McFadden says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge every business association in every neighbourhood is feeling: What鈥檚 the best way to get people to come to the street?鈥�
Khatsahlano is a great start. After all, when was the last time a website or a big-box warehouse hosted a 10-block street party?
鈥� The 2017 Khatsahlano Street Party runs Saturday, July 8, from 11am-9pm along West 4th Avenue from Burrard to MacDonald. More info at .
