“How can I show people that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure?” was a question that steered professional skier and Revelstoke resident, Leah Evans to organize, Revy Re-fest.
The two-day festival which is in its second year and is supported by Patagonia, Tourism Revelstoke, and the Columbia Basin Trustand, will take place from May, 25-26 and aims to gather the community around the four goals of reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose.
Revelstoke is noted as being a “tight-knit mountain community where folks are passionate about protecting where they play and create a sustainable future,” in a press release from the festival.
Evans explained that this year the festival will be on Second Street, outside of the Sugar Shack. Saturday (May 25) will begin with the re-craft market. Evans said that they have lots of vendors who are making crafts out of 70 percent recycled items. Some examples of what crafts, people can expect are vests made out of old quilts, cribbage boards made out of old skis, bags made out of old camping gear like ropes and tents, and charcuterie boards made out of wood.
There will also be a refill station set up, where folks can refill their coffee. Forage and Fill will be there for those wanting to fill up their soap containers.
As well, there will be a repair cafe which will feature local “fixers,” or residents who are skilled in areas like sewing and can help people repair their damaged items.
For those who don’t have something that needs to be repaired, there will also be opportunities to swap unused items for something that they may have been looking to purchase. Evans said that she hopes these items can circulate and find a good home, rather than ending up in a landfill. Revelstoke Cycling Association will be participating by organizing a bike swap during the festival.
The idea to create this festival had been floating around in Evans’ head for quite some time before she organized last year’s event.
“I would see trash-to-treasure sales or people making really great stuff out of reused goods and I thought why don’t you put it all together and centralize it,” said Evans.
Besides repairing items and swapping, there will be opportunities to create items throughout the festival. Evans explained that this year there will be a hands-on craft section where people can sit down with local artists and create items such as jewellery.
As Evans is a ski ambassador with Patagonia, she pitched the company the idea and they responded by saying “This sounds awesome.”
Birch and Lace’s famed trashion show will also be participating in the festival and will take place on Saturday (May 25) night, followed by a film premiere screen of Patagonia’s Shittropocence. The film discusses quality clothing and environmental impact.
The festival was widely attended last year and continues to expand as it is supported by a community of folks committed to outdoor living and preservation.
“We’re connected to nature and people really care,” said Evans.
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