Leander Baikie, music coordinator with the organizing committee, said from all aspects the event was a success and perhaps some of the best celebrations the festival has ever had.
He estimates that over the course of the two-day event some 4,000 people attended on a back and forth basis.
There were some 70 performers making up more than 30 acts, 34 booths for concessions and games, and fireworks.
"On the comments from the public relayed back to committee members, this was probably one of the better beach festivals we've ever had," he said. "From a committee's perspective it's what we wanted to achieve for 25 years."
Mr. Baikie said the numbers were up from previous events.
He said the committee had anticipated a larger showing with the opening of Phase 3 of the Trans Labrador Highway.
He said there were people in attendance from the North Coast, South Coast, Newfoundland, Canada, and even a few from different countries.
The first day of the festival was accompanied by the sun and warm weather. Mr. Baikie said this allowed those in attendance to take advantage of the community's beach, which is exactly what they did.
"North West River beach was packed and we are quite pleased about that," he said.
"Having the beach festival provides people with the opportunity to discover and use the great beach that exists in our town."
Overall, Mr. Baikie said this year's festival was a huge success but it couldn't have happened without the support of the organizing committee.
He said two years of fundraising went into this year's non-gated event to ensure it would happen.
The committee has no plans to become bigger or better for next year's festival, Mr. Baikie said when this happens the focus of the event gets lost.
"Which is to provide Central Labrador with the opportunity to promote tourism and a festival like this is the opportunity to do that," he said.
"And, for people to come home and spend time with their family and friends. If we can achieve that, that is all that is required."
Charlie Major
The 25th Beach Festival marked headliner Charlie Major's first trip to the Big Land.
Mr. Major said although he was born and raised in Quebec, he had never made the trip across the boarder into Labrador.
After performing in all of the country's provinces and across the artic, he said this stop is about the only check mark he had left in the conquest that comes with touring Canada.
His short stay of two days didn't provide him with much of an opportunity to see Labrador, but Mr. Major said he had the opportunity to meet nice people.
"I came in (last Friday) night had a wonderful supper at a lady's house, did some dishes (which was under protest according to the hostess) and had some great conversations," Mr. Major said.
"Everybody down east are for the most part, very open and friendly people and I always appreciate coming down here."
He even had the opportunity to just sit on the beach and watch the ocean.
Nowadays Mr. Major said he spends a lot of time touring and he's been working on a new album.
He said the new album is going to carry the same feel as all of his other albums.
"It's pretty much going to sound like Charlie Major," he said. "You can't really divert too far from what people expect of you. I'm not about to switch to blues or rock or anything like that. If I wanted to play that kind of music in the first place that's what I'd be doing."
For the up and coming musicians of Labrador, Mr. Major has these words of advice -hard work is the key.
"There is no magic formula, you can't go to the store and buy something in a bottle that says success," he said. "You've got to work at it, that's all there is to it, there's a lot sacrifice and a lot of compromise, that's it."
reporter@thelabradorian.ca
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